Man In The Window
March
It's had been 7 years since Quinn and Finn's wedding, Will was proving to be a successful Principle, and Sam now a qualified History teacher was doing more than well at Coaching for the New Directions, he'd reached a bit further than he thought he could, it had been difficult as he'd imagined, but with the right woman by your side, he was learning fast that anything was possible.
The New Directions had just won nationals, so he'd spent early evening celebrating with them, and now he was on his way to meet Will, Blaine and Kurt at the shack, for whatever reason Rachel was tagging along, he was ready for some grown up celebrating. Will had called, and somehow talked him into meeting up with Blaine and Kurt, saying he thought it was time the three of them tried to selvage their relationship.
Flashback
Just over a year ago it had all gone south when Sam had tried to have a conversation with Mercedes. She was trying to get him to go slow and he was struggling to see how much slower they could go, she'd called him saying she wanted him to hear what she hoped would be her next release, he was shocked when she came at him with
Tainted view of us, I find it hard to see, anything that was, good in you and me
I hate it when you go, I'm happy when you leave, I go through withdrawals, when I draw you close to me
Is this my destiny, to set you free? Is this my destiny...
He sat listening to her telling him what they'd worked at for nearly seven years was done, at her say so, he should have known something was wrong from her last visit home, she came at him with this reasoning as to why he needed something or someone else. They'd argued, there really wasn't a time they talked that didn't start or end with an argument, ever since she'd agreed to this last tour without consulting him, nearly eighteen months ago.
He was angry, with all sort of shit going through his head, he said a lot of stuff he'd never go through with, but for the hurt she'd caused he wanted to. He found out Kurt had been telling her his version of everything, he was furious, apparently Blaine was confiding in Kurt, who was telling Mercedes lies and half truths. The argument ended with Kurt telling Blaine to choose, there was no choice to make, of course Blaine rightly walked away with Kurt, that was a year ago, Sam couldn't lie, he missed them. Mercedes and he had made up and as a result he'd written a verse for her song, which she duetted with Omari, their friend.
A million reasons why, we could've said goodbye, but my heart can't deny, how it feels when you're by my side
If we get any closer now, we won't have to dream, the feelings that we shared, already reign supreme, oh
Is this my destiny, to set you free (Set you free) is this my destiny, lying here with me... 'Same Space' by Tiana Major9 & SiR
End of Flashback
On his way over to the shack he'd got a call from Will, saying one of the children weren't well, so he was bowing out, Sam stood for a second wishing he had someone to come first in his life right now. Just before he got to the venue he'd read Blaine's message bowing out too, he was used to nights alone, he stood praying Rachel was ill too.
The Shack
Brittana
Having decided he wasn't offering that olive branch again, he rolled his eyes at seeing the notice on the window, of all the nights, he'd walked into the shack straight into a Karaoke fest, but he hadn't expected to hear Brittany and Santana doing their rendition of 'U R U' by Maya Delilah he stood listening, it had been a while since he'd heard their voices or seen their faces.
Both: So, you, oh, got to know that
I like it when you see me, and you don't even look my way, I like it when you hear me, when I didn't even know of something to say
I like it when you feel me, and we're not even in the same place, I like it when you, I like it when you, I like it when you are you
He stood with everyone else clapping as he watched them go back to their seats, rolling his eyes when Rachel came into the picture, he stood a few booths back, listening, trying to make sense of the hostile body language Brittany was giving off.
"Alright Britt?" Rachel stood at their table asking,
"Yeah" Brittany looked at her, "Why?"
"Because it's…"
"Look" Brittany held her hand up, stopping the conversation "Fuck off Berry, you're not welcome" she put her drink down and got up, "Everyone's fucked off with your move the last time we saw you".
"That was what two years ago" Rachel laughed "That shit is so over".
"Do we look like it's over for us?" Brittany snapped.
"You hypocrite" Rachel snapped at her "You said things that hurt too".
"But you walked, not us" Brittany shouted back at her.
"You knew how Quinn felt, you knew she was…" Santana snapped back at her, deciding not to finish her sentence, "Just get the fuck away from the table before I end you" she cut her eye at the girl and grabbed her waiting drink.
"Okay, if that's how you feel" Rachel backed off and walked away "Definitely off my freaking Christmas list" she looked around, trying to pick her next victim "Hi" she waved, walking through the tables towards her next victim, Sam stood watching where she was going.
There was no excuse Berry could give to excuse her behaviour, it was a sad day for all of them, Quinn especially, and the bitch still went there. True, everyone had said something hurtful, but Berry started it all and she was the one that left everyone else to deal with the fall out.
The Shack
Sam had dodged Rachel's glare, and now he was stood damning himself for meeting her here, having heard Mercedes voice respond to the girl, if he'd known Mercedes was going to be around he'd have cancelled this drink thing himself. One thing he knew for certain was that there was no love lost between the two women, and everyone was happy she'd gone to live in New York, none of the girls had let on what happened but the guys knew it was bad.
Despite her sketchy behaviour around all the guys in the group, he, along with all the others, were also very aware that the names Rachel, Berry or Lentil, were not names to be used in any conversation where Mercedes or any of the females from their group of friends were present.
"Rachel" Mercedes rolling her eyes and huffing, making him smile "Seriously, I could do without your shit right now, I haven't slept since I finished in the studio early this morning" she frowned, frustrated. Sam straightened up to make his way across
"Sam and I are meeting…"
"And you felt you just needed to come over here to tell me that because?" Mercedes snapped at her "Get the fuck out my face Berry, we're not friends, we don't chat".
"Mercedes" she gasped frustrated "I was going to say Sam and I are meeting here as friends" she hissed "Because I didn't want you getting all fucking twisted".
"Well thanks for the note, but I wouldn't have called you two friends" she rolled her eyes again.
"Mercedes" Sam smiled pleasantly surprised, leaning in to kiss her cheek "You never said you were coming home this weekend" his hand rubbed her shoulder endearingly "Great to see you".
"Good to see you too" she smiled up at him, grabbing the hand he rested on her shoulder.
"Should I get those drinks?" Rachel asked.
"Sorry Rachel, but I've been waiting to catch up with Mercedes for a while, and now I've got a window, if you don't mind, can we take a rain check on that drink?"
"Deja fucking Vu" Mercedes huffed, removing her hand, and slapping it around the half full glass in front on her.
"No, it's not" Sam told her rolling his eyes "Problem?" he asked Rachel, still stood there.
"I was about to ask how you were actually" Rachel looked at Mercedes, and back at Sam.
"You really don't want to know" Sam smiled at her.
"Why don't I?"
"Rachel, can we get some privacy please?" he asked again politely, these past few months it had been Mercedes thing to pop by for a few hours, very rarely a day, leaving petals of destruction, and he needed to know what this visit was about.
"Does this mean I've become the enemy again?" she pointed at Mercedes.
"Rachel" his lips thinning "I haven't seen you for nearly a freaking year".
"You…" she attempted to ignore his request again.
"Rachel" Mercedes snapped, closing her conversation down, "Please get the fuck out my face" she rolled her eyes exhausted by the meaningless ranting.
"Well, fuck you too" Rachel turned sharply, walked over to the counter, sat on a stool, and loudly ordered a large vodka, she sat sipping at it, her face screwed as she looked angrily around the room, finally smiling at another friendly face walking towards her "Hi" she watched Quinn scribbling on a note pad "You're preserving your voice for later?" she read, watching Quinn nod her head, and walk away, Rachel eager for company followed her to the vacant table.
"What do you want?" Quinn wrote on her notepad, her body language telling Rachel she wished this shit weren't happening right now.
"Just to catch up" she smiled at her "It's been nearly two years since we last saw each other".
"I'll humour you, because I'm dying for another reason to slap your fucking face" she wrote, looking over at Mercedes and Sam talking "How are things?" she wrote.
"Well, careers good, but then you get days like these" Rachel looked around the room "I know things got bad between us all when I overstepped with Finn, but we had some good times, we all did, didn't we?" she looked around again "I remember this one time when…"
"Actually" Quinn interrupted, breaking her silence, flicking the notebook around for her to read "It was actually a question that I didn't care to get an answer to" she cut her eyes at her, scribbling more words "A simple bad would have sufficed".
"What's wrong with you?" Rachel snapped, watching Quinn pick up her drink and move to another table.
"I cannot believe you had to ask, bitch" Quinn broke her silence again to talk to her.
Quinn had originally had a fairly good relationship with Rachel, they weren't the best of friends, in the beginning Rachel had made it look like they had each other's backs regardless, and Quinn had fully brought into it. It didn't take long to learn the reasoning behind the friendship, Rachel was in love with Finn, Quinn's boyfriend, who she'd been with forever. Rachel had steamrollered over her, so, instead of having a fun filled four years at school, Quinn was in this constant battle of snatching her own boyfriend back out of the claws of this bitch. They made it through, and it was the happiest day of her life when they got married straight out of college, and moved away, finally Berry was history.
Mercedes, Tina, and Quinn had formed an alliance over time, because Rachel had latched onto Mike, then Sam when Finn was no longer available, she's spoken to them in some depth about the triangle they'd found themselves in. She had more that an understanding of what Tina meant when she said she felt Rachel trying to make a conversation with Mike into more than it was, or Mercedes trying to explain how Berry was making a stolen kiss into something it wasn't, it was like the girl only had one speed, and it was on repeat.
The situation had sent Mercedes somewhere dark, after speaking to Quinn and Tina, they were worried enough to call Sam, that same weekend he'd dropped everything to go find out what was happening with her. She'd tried to pretend Quinn and Tina had it all wrong, but he was persistent she couldn't keep that up for long, so after the shouting, silence and banging around, the floodgates finally broke.
Mercedes cried for twenty minutes about the whole thing before she called Quinn Tina to thank them for the intervention, she'd sat on the other side of the phone listening, damning that girl Berry for ever existing, she knew this battle well, Berry was capable of anything.
The more serious part of Quinn's gripe, everyone knew, yes Finn had chosen her, they were happy, he'd joined the army, and to be honest, she was happy he'd finally made a decision and run with it, she could write anywhere, so, his time away worked for both of them. They were making a life together, happily planning a family, until one Tuesday evening in April, two officers knocked her door, she couldn't believe he'd made her a widow at 25, he'd had a parachute accident, in her grief all Quinn could think was that Berry had taken, stolen even, some of their time together, she hated her, more than she'd ever hated anyone, and after her performance at his funeral, she never thought that feeling would change.
Flashback
Everyone knew Rachel had long been the central focus of their group, everything seemed to centre around her, if she cried someone had to be there to give her a hug, if she was leaving Lima the whole class had to be there to see her off, and if she was moving house, there had to be a freaking party to ease her into the transition. Everyone's gripe came to a head at Finn's funeral, Rachel was already emerging as the centre of attention, even today.
"He's here" Carol called her voice shaky, her eyes filling with tears "My child is here" she broke on the last word, everyone's focus changed from the polite chatter to bursts of tears, as they were forced to remember why they were there.
The church was sombre, as you'd expect for such an occasion, whimpering on the front row, as Kurt got up to say a heartfelt, eulogy, making the congregation, laugh, cry, and remember while singing their way through the whole process, ending with a song he loved. The air was thick at the graveside while they listened to the last words spoken over him and watched the coffin take its final resting place, then everyone made their way to Quinn's for a final goodbye and hopefully some closure.
Two hours later the doors closed on the outside world, leaving the few Glee family to their icy devices, everyone fed up with listening to Rachel's voice. "Look" Mercedes caught her attention "Either shut the fuck up or spit it out, you've been dying to say something all through the damn service" she stood up shouting across the room, knowing there was more to this outburst than what met the eye, everyone stood looking around avoiding eye contact with Rachel "Come on, spill" her eyes focused on Rachel.
"Okay" Sam looked at Mike, Blaine, and Artie "I think that's our cue to leave" the four guys walked outside, leaving the girls to themselves.
"What?" Rachel asked staring back at her.
"You've got something to say, just say it" Mercedes walked towards her, Brittany, Santana, Kurt, Tina and Quinn in hot pursuit, Kurt still trying to make his mind up if he wanted to be a part of whatever was about to kick off.
"It will hold" Rachel flashed the subject off.
"If there's something to say, it's not difficult just say it, what are you scared of?" Quinn snapped, hurt on her face "I mean it's only Finn's funeral, of course somehow it was always going to be about you Berry".
"Listen" Tina butted in, everyone looked at her "This doesn't need to be another argument".
"You need to stop taking those damn pills, they're making you worse" Rachel hissed at Kurt.
"What the hell are you doing telling everyone my damn business?" he snapped at her.
"And he's listening to you because?" Tina looked at her, seeing Kurt's hurt "Oh yeah" her finger went in the air "I forget you left NYADA to become a fucking surgeon" she laughed, suddenly ready to take on whatever was coming "I think you need to have a go at surgically pulling that fucking it's all about me flag out your ass before you start giving any more medical advice".
"Well, I don't like to say I told you so" Rachel looked at Quinn, ignoring Tina's advice.
"But?" Quinn asked.
"But I told you not to let him go in the army".
"So, what are you saying?" Quinn gasped "This is all my fault?"
"Rachel" Mercedes gasped at the comment.
"And you can shut up Miss perfectly imperfect, it's not normal or fashionable to be a fucking thirty year old virgin" she snapped at Mercedes, "The man's constantly begging for it" she looked across to the door Sam and the others had walked out of "It's pathetic".
"Well, he wasn't begging for it from you was he, story is you gave him limp dick" Santana snapped laughing. "And I guess that's the reason Jessie had to sleep with anything breathing, to learn how to keep it up" she snapped the air with her fingers.
"He still came running back to me" Rachel laughed at her "I'm guessing you were one of those breathing sluts, so what does that say about you?"
"Didn't he sleep with you too?" Rachel turned to ask Tina.
"What?" Tina gasped; taken aback at her insinuating she was one of those sluts.
"You're just as much of an idiot as Brittany" Rachel hiss at Tina before a sharp sting of the full force of Quinn's hand hit her face.
"Get out" Quinn yelled at her "Get out" she screamed "And I never want to see you again, you bitch".
"Well, that suits me fine, because I never want to see you fucking losers ever again" she turned on her heel and walked towards the exit "You do know" she stopped and turned to say, "That was always meant to be a song, not a life choice, losers".
"And you do know that Finn was wasting time when you threw yourself at him?!" Kurt snapped, finally picking his side "Said something about you being desperate" he shouted as the door burst open.
"And I'm listening to you because?" she carried on walking towards the exit, pushed past the guys and walked out.
"That's it, that bitch has gotten away with the very last thing, I'm never speaking to her again" Quinn told them all.
"I can't believe she went as low as to make today all about her" Brittany commented.
"I refuse to remember this about this day" Mercedes told everyone.
"Me too" Tina agreed.
"Me three" Santana stuck her pinkie finger in for linking "Never again".
"Never again" they all put their pinkies in
On that day everyone vowed never to speak to her again, the bitch was toxic, and what's more she'd made Finn's funeral all about her.
End of Flashback
Try as she might to move on with her life, those hurtful words had stayed with Quinn. Very few people knew she'd re-married, she'd met Joe just three months after burying Finn, it wasn't love at first site, actually it was borne from a conversation with Mercedes and Tina encouraging her to let a guy buy her a dinner or something and see where it goes. Surprisingly, good company and time had healed parts of her heart, and by month eight she literally worshiped this man with everything she was, she didn't think it possible to love anyone more than she loved Finn, but Joe came along and swept her off her feet and straight down the aisle.
She could do without being judged for every decision she was going to make with her life that was going to push Finn further into the past.
"Surely we can leave the past in the past?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah we can, you are the past" Quinn turned and walked away.
Samcedes
"So how can I help you?" Mercedes watched Sam sit down opposite her.
"Don't be like that" he moaned, sitting back uneasily "And don't say you're not being like anything, I can tell by your tone".
"She just wasn't the first person I needed to see" she rolled her eyes at Rachel still walking around "I thought you'd be in here ages ago, I wanted to say sorry before you dragged me to bed…" she smiled.
"You could have said sorry in bed" he smiled "How long are you here for this time?"
"I don't know" she looked at her phone "They don't know I've gone yet".
"So, we have until that phone rings" he sat back calling for a waitress "As I said we need to talk" he looked up at the waitress to order their drinks.
"I'm listening" she finished the last of her drink in preparation for her refill,
"Okay, four break ups in ten years, is enough to put anyone off, but we're still here, still fighting and believing in our love, and I'm just fed up of this avoidance thing we've got going on, so I'm sort of hoping you're ready for this conversation" he looked around "This isn't ideal, but hey, I'll take what I get" he sat forward in the booth.
"Sam" she tried to stop him talking.
"No Mercedes, so far I've agreed to everything, done everything you've asked of me, and as much as you didn't want me to, or didn't think I could, I've waited for you, you said seven years and to my recollection this is the seventh year" he huffed "I believe if I let you, you'll go on forever, so I guess this is me, putting my foot down".
"You are?" she raised an eyebrow, shocked at his tone.
"You know I am" he laughed "You of all people should know me by now, when I want something, nothing much stops me".
"I know that about you" she laughed "But you know that about me too".
"I know you know I want all up in you" he grinned.
"And I know you heard me make the call on that" she giggled.
"So, what are we doing babe?" he looked into her eyes waiting for her reply.
"I guess we need to…"
"Evans" Mike walked over to where they sat smiling "Mercedes" he hugged her before grabbing his friend's hand "You two?" he looked from one to the other "Finally getting your shit together?"
"We're talking about it" Sam smiled at him before looking at Mercedes, not that Mike took the hint he carried on talking.
"We've been talking on the phone too, but I finally met back up with Ms Cohen Chang last night, is everyone back this weekend?" he smiled, not waiting for an answer before he carried on "It's looking promising with T, everything's crossed" he looked at Mercedes "She'll be in soon, I guess you two will want to catch up".
"Yeah" Mercedes smiled.
"What happened with the wedding?" Sam asked him curiously.
"Old news, no news" he frowned.
"It's off?" Sam asked surprised.
"Short story" Mike sat down.
Mercy had heard it all before, but it had been a month since she'd physically seen Tina, so she was excited about that, totally disinterested in Mike's tale she sat looking around the room, smiling when she noticed Quinn get up a few tables away "I'll leave you two to catch up" she smiled at Mike "Ten minutes" she told Sam as she passed him, making her way over to Quinn.
Mercedes & Quinn
"Q" Mercedes called
"Girl" Quinn turned happy to see her friend "Where have you been?" her voice no longer hurting.
"Working" Mercy flashed her hair off her shoulder laughing.
"How was the tour?"
"Amazing" she rolled her eyes and clasped her hands together "Missy was the absolute best" she grabbed hold of Quinn's hand "Such a queen, perfection, nothing like she is on TV" she rolled her eyes dramatically "She's so much better" she laughed.
"And the album?"
"It's almost ready to drop" she screeched "What about you, that book was the bomb".
"Thank you, blood sweat and tears" she nodded.
"Yeah" they stood for a second remembering Finn "Have you told anyone about Joe yet?" she leaned closer to ask.
"Just you and Sam" she looked over at Sam and Mike in deep conversation, "He's meeting me here tonight, I didn't think everyone would be here".
"Don't worry about it, what can Berry do, nothing" Mercedes looked around the room unable to find the woman "Have you seen her yet?"
"Yeah, I pretended to be on voice rest" she laughed.
"You still sing?"
"No" she laughed "I gave all that up for the pen" she held her notepad up and grabbed Mercedes' hand "But I see all your songs are still focused on a certain someone" she looked across the room again, Sam and Mike still in conversation "Does he know that you're here?"
"Yeah, we're talking" Mercedes smiled at the sight of him, the feel of being able to just turn to see him sitting there bringing a ping of excitement.
"He really loves you; you know that don't you?" Quinn smiled and waved, at Sam looking across at them.
"And you know I love him".
"Don't you think he's put up with more than enough of your crazy?"
"He has" she looked over at him, her eyes passing on Santana and Brittany sat in their own world "Is that Santana and Brittany?" Quinn spun round to check them out.
"It is" Quinn confirmed, they both got up to go see their friends "Unholy Trinity" she called to them.
"The Trouble Tones" Mercedes called at the same time.
"Hey" Santana and Brittany jumped up.
"You finished the high life already?" Santana hung onto Mercedes shoulder asking.
"Just starting" Mercy assured her taking the hug "Britt" she smiled grabbing a hug, watching Quinn and Santana doing some move from back in the day "You going up?" she pointed at the stage, asking Santana.
"We've been up" Brittany told her "You and Quinn should do something".
"I don't do the sing thing anymore, but I'll back" Quinn smiled.
"We all will" Santana jumped up "Who is that?" Santana asked of the stranger walking into the shack.
Quinn and Mercedes looked at each other "I'll introduce you after" Quinn laughed waving at him, grinning widely at him blowing a kiss across the room.
"You ready for this?" Mercedes asked, all four walking towards the stage.
"Absolutely" Quinn giggled, watching Mercedes tell the DJ which song they wanted, they stood waiting for a short while before the music to 'In Person' by Dom Belli started, Santana started the song before Mercedes came in singing.
Sam stopped talking to Mike when he heard Mercedes' voice smiling at her not singing anything she didn't mean, he sat listening to the words, grinning, he was happy with what the song was telling him.
Mercedes: Picture perfect and you know your purpose, boy, you got me curious, is he worth it?
Damn, (you) got me in a vibe, every time I pull you up, I feel a way inside, yeah, yeah
Quinn: I got to find a way, to get your attention, (should I slide away) or drop a heart emoji in your comments.
All (Santana): You been working, I low-key been lurking, we been flirting, ooh But I can't wait to see you in person, yeah
(I can't, I can't, I can't) oh I can't wait to see you in person, yeah
(I can't, I can't, I can't) oh, I can't wait to see you in person.
For Quinn there was no one else in the room except Joe, he was looking at her as if he were seeing her for the first time, as she stood singing, smiling at this actually being the first time he'd ever heard her sing in public.
Mercedes: Had to hit my friends, I'm like, girl, what you think of him? you like the way that he dress?, you like his drip?
No cap, think he almost made me slip (slip, slip ooh) I like the way he do his dance
He a mood and he ain't worried about the trends…
All (Mercedes): …I just want to see you in person (asap) I already know that you'll be worth it, (yeah)
And I'm a wave, maybe we can go surfing (first I) first, I got to see you in person
(Shooby-doo-bop, shoo-doo-bop I want to love on you, shooby-doo-bop, shoo-doo-bop, I want to love you all night, yeah)
Before the song finished Joe was on his way over to his wife "Hi" he pulled her to him kissing her "Dark horse, I never knew you could sing like that".
"There are a lot of things I do that you're yet to find out about" she giggled "This is Santana and Brittany" she smiled at her friends stood waiting for an introduction.
"Oh yes the other two thirds of the Unholy Trinity" he laughed offering his hand "Is everything Quinn tells me about your days of sin true?" he laughed pulling her closer to him.
"If she told the truth, yes" Santana laughed.
"And this is Mercedes".
"The one who knows our well-kept secret" he smiled at her "Pleased to finally meet you" he hugged her.
"What's the secret?" Brittany asked.
"Joe's my husband" Quinn waved her arms in the air uncomfortably.
"That's good news isn't it?" Brittany asked.
"Is it?" Quinn looked at Santana.
"Finn's gone, he's not coming back, surely you didn't expect to be grieving for him the rest of your life, Quinn you were just 25 when he passed" Santana told her.
"So, you don't think this all happened too soon?" Quinn asked.
"We of all people know that time waits on no man" Santana told her "Except maybe Mercedes" she laughed looking at her friend "Talking of time, I spotted a certain someone" she looked around "Shouldn't you be using yours more productively?" she nodded across the room at Sam.
"How did you see him?" Mercy laughed.
"Whenever you're around he's never too far away" Santana laughed.
"Come say hello" Mercedes told them all, fighting through the crowd, knowing she'd taken more than the promised ten minutes already, everyone followed her over to catch up with Sam and Mike.
Mercedes stood watching everyone exchanging their hellos, she'd missed this group of people, she smiled, happy she'd made the right decision in coming home. She'd left Mercedes Jones; the done to, back here, and always found it hard to return home for fear of resorting back to that girl she barely recognised today. The constant battle to return, a decision out of her hands because Sam was still here, and as much as she hated the feeling she got from the place, she couldn't go a full month these days without seeing him. She'd walked out of the hotel this afternoon, knowing she had a night free before travelling to Atlanta for another gig tomorrow night, just to see his face, whatever was going to happen for her actions was worth it.
On top of everything on her last visit she'd been so wound up she'd told him they'd finished, so they communicated via messages only, carrying on the argument of him not letting go, and her not wanting him to, but two weeks later she called his phone and some woman answered. He called her straight back, made his excuses, and she forced herself to believe him, it was easier than the alternative, but it had hurt, she'd been working through her mistrust issues, but it wasn't helped by the history of Kurt pouring oil in her ears.
Of any conversation she'd ever had with Berry there was one thing the girl was right about, she really hadn't known anything about life except Lima and Sam, so yes she really did need to see the world and find out what else it had to offer. There was no denying she'd had fun, done things normal 20 something year olds might never do, in relation to rubbing shoulders with the elite, she'd seen the world, and established herself a name in the tough music business. But in knowing and experiencing all of that, she'd also learned that world was a very lonely place everyone was either competition or someone she was aspiring to be, everything about that world was fake and she was struggling to stay on point, depression had set in.
"You alright?" Sam's hand slid down her arm aware something was going on for her.
"I'm fine" she smiled grabbing his hand when it reached her sliding in to sit beside him, for a second she'd forgotten she wasn't alone.
It was such a simple gesture, but it was something she missed, that someone asking the right question at the right time, someone who paid enough attention to know when she was thinking, uncertain, unhappy, or even happy. People out there didn't get that, there was no selflessness in that industry, she called it Berry's world, it was eat or be eaten, she'd learned that out there, where life took place, but inside, where no one could see, everyone needed someone to love and preferably someone who loved them back.
She'd been apprehensive about coming back, not sure if Sam still loved her, unsure how she was going to fight to get him back after their last heated conversation, but right now she was smiling at him putting her mind at rest as soon as he saw her, he'd never stopped fighting to get them back. They had done 7 years, maybe this was that itch her Mom always talked about, the one that happened in marriages every 7 years, they weren't married, but somewhere along the line they'd committed to each other, and maybe back then their minds didn't actually know what that had meant, but their bodies, it would seem, did.
"Are you sure, do you want to get out of here?" he looked into her eyes playfully "Cream?".
She smiled, resting her chin on his shoulder to whisper in his ear "I could definitely do with a nightcap later, but for now let's spend some time with our friends, save getting up tomorrow" she giggled at his smiling face.
"I thought you were on a timer, waiting for a call…"
"Evans" Mike shouted for his attention again.
"What?" Sam looked at him.
"We were just saying, you've got a key, couldn't we break into the choir room, just for the hell of it, have a lock in?"
"I am actually a qualified teacher now Chang, that would be more than my job".
"You can talk Mr S around" Mike suggested.
"I'm actually on the board" Sam smiled at everyone oohing at him.
"Damn it Mike, you said you'd wait outside for me" Tina came walking through the crowded tables towards them, screaming at seeing everyone, Mike watched her walking around getting her hugs and having her conversations before she got to him "I should be mad at you" she kissed him on the lips.
"What for?" he got up from the chair he'd been sitting on, to let her sit down, to get closer to Mercedes.
"You should have called me, told me everyone was here" she tapped his nose "We'll add that to our list of things to talk about, communication" she sat down to converse with Mercedes. "You made your decision then?" she whispered in her friend's ear as she hugged her.
"I guess we did" Mercedes smiled.
Tina had been a friend all through School, they'd gone their separate ways for college but professionally their paths had crossed on many occasions over the past two years, and they'd somewhere along the line become best friends. Tina had the knack of writing beautiful lyrics and Mercedes had the gift to turn them into music gold, she'd written four of the songs on Mercedes new album.
Tina had chosen theatre as her career, it wasn't a difficult route to take, but it was hard work, she'd been in a few memorable plays, but was yet to get a major part in any play, and she understood that, she was on the battle ground with some big names, her lyrics were bringing in more than she needed right now, so she was happy with that.
These past six months had been tough, there were times when she'd just get on a call with Mercedes and they'd cry it out, both understanding the release. Mike had gotten engaged to some hair brain woman, Tina had always hoped they'd be end game, she was devastated, so much so it was affecting her work. After three long months of scanning social media for scraps of detail about the woman, his pending nuptials, or him, she finally got the news she needed to hear, the wedding was off.
She'd been on the phone crying to Mercedes when their call was interrupted "Mercedes I've got to take this, it's Mike" she gasped at seeing his number flash up, more shocked at the fact that his number was still the same, she'd never dare call it. It turned out he was the one that called the whole thing off, because he'd been lying to himself he was still in love with her and he wanted to talk, see if there was any way back for them.
Of course, she knew there was a way back for them, her bed had been waiting forever, but she had to play it cool, this could all have been just wedding day jitters and she might be the one left with mud on her face. So, these mini slices of catch up, were her way of treading carefully, testing the waters, and putting down some well needed foundations for this relationship, that as far as she was concerned, was meant to be.
"We came to talk" Mike reminded her "Can we find a booth?" he looked around the room "Is that Rachel?" he asked of the woman sitting sipping a drink, staring at them.
"Hmmm" Tina looked over her shoulder not really interested.
"You women are still the same" he laughed "What did she do that was that bad to get you all to freeze her out?" they walked off to find a private space to talk.
"This conversation isn't about Berry is it?, unless you feel that's an important topic" she snapped as she sat down.
"No, it isn't" he sat down, closing that conversation, he'd actually forgotten the code until that second.
Tike
"So" Tina looked into the eyes of the man she'd always loved "Sunshine?"
"I thought we'd talked the hell out of that mistake already" he sat back in his chair "I don't want to cover old ground, I got swept up in the pomp of it all, thought for a split second it was the real thing, she asked, it was a really awkward situation, in front of our parents and everything, I just felt too wrong to say no at the time, and you know the rest".
"So, what are you thinking about us?"
"Not beating around the bush tonight" he smiled "I just don't want us to end, I just want us to go on forever" he smiled at her.
"Sounds sort of familiar" she laughed "But how are we going to make this work if we decided to go for it, you're in San Francisco, I'm in Virginia, we don't do well with the distance thing" she sighed.
"We've never tried the distance thing, and I can dance anywhere in the world, as long as we have a home, I'll always get back there, and so will you, if we commit".
"That's a big word for us" she looked at him pretending to freak out about it.
"Rolls easy off the tongue if you mean it".
"Do you mean it?"
"Course I do, no way would I be here asking this, if I wasn't ready to be one hundred percent in on this thing our friends lovingly call Tike" he laughed grabbing her hand "And what I hope to one day call The Chang's".
"I so hope that wasn't it, Chang" she pulled her hand away laughing.
"It wasn't" he laughed grabbing her hand back "But it's definitely a commitment goal" he kissed the back of her hand as he watched Joe and Sam getting on stage "This should be good" he pulled Tina to his side of the table to watch them on stage.
"A little thing to my Lady, I guess she hears me better when I sing" Sam looked at Mercedes "Joe here agreed to back me" he smiled at him "We're on a limb, we've never sung together before, this is a little thing called 'My Bad' by Teddy Swims".
Chorus
Sam: I've been taking these shots back to back to back, got one eye open, trying to find out where I'm at
I know that you mad, yeah, sorry, that's my bad, yeah, when you talking love, I don't know how to act
Sam (with Joe): And I've got some issues that always come up, smoke myself stupid to cover it up, cause my heart's been broken, baby, too many times
You always show up and I always run, tell myself lies, what we're doing is dumb deep down, I know it, babe (you're one of a kind Oh yeah, okay)
I was doing (good out on my own), yeah, staying in my lane, and going slow (going slow, yeah)
Hate to put you through this back and forth but, girl, it's hard for me to give up my control, so.
Chorus X 2: Sam & Joe
Sam (with Joe): (Too many nights) I went and got myself in more shit (Too many fights), thinking back, I got your words distorted
(Want to do by you right), swear I'll be better than before, (but I'm broken inside), I need a fix, I can't ignore it
(I) want to fall in love (fall in love) but I just get so stuck (just get so stuck), thinking I'll mess this up. so
Chorus x 2: Sam & Joe
Sam: Back to back, where you at? love, I don't know how to act
Mercedes had come back, he'd made his mind up he was going to grab the bull by the horns and step their relationship up a notch, he felt that was what she wanted too, she kept coming back for hours at a time, it was like she was waiting for him to ask, he jumped off stage and walked towards her "Can we talk now?"
"Yeah" she got up to find a private booth.
Quoe
"This hasn't gone as you'd expected I know" Joe sat next to his wife, watching Santana and Brittany wonder off "But it hasn't gone that bad, has it?"
"Maybe better, I was really expecting some flack".
"From?" he looked around "Everyone seems so nice".
"You haven't met Cruella in the corner" she nodded to where Rachel sat "That's the woman I just don't trust".
"Well, you can trust me" he kissed her forehead.
"I know that" she looked into his eyes.
"So, when are we going to tell everyone about Caleb, you can't hide a baby forever?" he touched her tummy.
"We don't know she's a boy, do we?" she laughed.
"But we do know he's a baby".
"You can tell them, in the next conversation" she closed her eyes nervous as she told him.
"It's not like they can't see, if you take your coat off anyone can see your nearly eight months gone".
"Okay" she rested her head on his chest giggling.
Samcedes
"I believe we're ready for a final clear out" he pointed at an empty booth, the table was full of empty glasses, he called the waitress over and sat down beside Mercedes. "I'll clear up anything you need".
"Are we alright"? she grabbed his hand.
"Of course, we're alright, what kind of question is that?" he grabbed her hand on top of his "Don't tell me you're doubting us…"
"I'm not, I just want to make sure" she smiled.
"Any more questions?"
"Katy?"
"Never happened, never even heard of Katy, that was something in Kurt's head".
"Are you guys talking yet?"
"No, we were supposed to meet up tonight, but they backed out" he smiled "You talking to Kurt yet?"
"No".
"My turn, what was the conversation in the bedroom all about?" she looked at him her head rocking to the side wondering what he was talking about "You know what I'm talking about, we were on the phone last Wednesday at 11pm your time, and just as you were about to put the phone down, I heard a man's voice in your room, you told me you were alone".
"I was alone I was in my bedroom, that must have been Omari, he pops his head round the door sometimes to tell me the pizzas arrived, you know I'm not missing that" she laughed.
"Okay" he smiled, happy at knowing Omari was gay.
"You waited all this time to ask me that, why didn't you just call me back?" she giggled.
"I was trusting in our love, that's what you said wasn't it?"
"Yeah" she grabbed his hand tighter.
"So, what's happening with us, now we've talked about everybody else?"
"Well, I came with the intention to fight to get you back, but…" she smiled at him.
"That would have been pretty romantic though wouldn't it?" he laughed "I know you haven't gotten your first Grammy yet, but he's still here" he grinned cheekily.
"Who?"
"That awesome dude that's great at impressions and totally into you".
"Sam" she laughed.
"That wasn't just a summer fling Mercedes, it's lasted nine whole years".
"I know, and I guess I've lied to myself for long enough, I want..".
"Can we get out of here?" he looked around the room, rolling his eyes at Rachel getting on stage.
"Wait" Rachel called after them, looking into the crowd "Please just listen" she looked at the DJ nodding for him to start the song.
I won't tell you I'm lonely, cause, it might be selfish.
I won't ask you to hold me, cause, that won't mend what's helpless.
There's not a thing I could say, not a song I could sing, for your mind to change, nothing can fill up the space
Won't ask you to stay, but let me ask you one thing, oh, when did you fall out of love? out of love?
Oh, when did you fall out of love with me...
Everyone sat listening to her song Tina and Mercedes eyes met, they knew this lonely, this was a woman crying out for help, she'd been out there feeling that lonely too. Santana and Brittany looked at each other remembering the times they'd messed up and this same group of people had taken them back in, loved them and forgiven them.
Quinn squeezed Joe's hand, she'd hated her for what she'd said and done at Finn's funeral, even hated her for the time she'd made them lose, but this woman stood in front of her right now was begging, and that wasn't a Rachel Berry look, something was wrong. Quinn looked at Mercedes nodding her decision, she was going to leave all that behind her, she had a new life now with someone who loved her, and nothing was going to change that.
...No use, wondering, why your change in heart has wondered
So I ask you this question cause it might help me sleep longer.
(Girls): Oh, when did you fall out of love? out of love? oh, when did you run out of love for me?
Out of love? (out of love) out of love? (out of love) out of love with me? 'Out of Love' by Alessia Cara
"I'm sorry" Rachel cried as the song ended.
The Girls seemed to get up at the same time "Rachel" Quinn caught her attention "We need to talk" they moved off towards Brittany and Santana's booth. They all settled in, watching Rachel trying to stop crying, Quinn was the first to speak again "We all love you Rachel, we always will, but some of the things you do, and say, makes us not like you very much a lot of the time".
"I try, I really do, but… It's just taking a long time".
"What's the matter Lentil" Santana sat back not believing all this emotional bull crap.
She looked around the table trying to figure out how to say what she needed "Jessie" she looked at Quinn "He's asked me to marry him".
"So, this is another Rachel Berry fucking project?" Mercedes rolled her eyes ready to leave the table.
"No" Rachel quickly reacted "I said no".
"But that's what you've always wanted, isn't it?" Tina asked puzzled.
"It is" Rachel agreed "And as you know I've pictured me getting married so many times, to so many men" she looked around the table "And yes we argue and fall out for a day or whatever, but this last time was so final" she took a breath "But in every vision I've ever had of me getting married you were all there, I couldn't marry him knowing I'd wronged you all, and my family weren't going to be there, you're my sisters" she started crying again "I'm so sorry for the hurt I caused, especially you Quinn" she looked at her "I was so wrong" the music covered the silence, this was always going to be Quinn's call.
"I must admit" Quinn made them jump with her outburst "I'm going to need all my sisters around me too" she smiled grabbing Rachel's hand "I'll need all the help I can get with this little one" she patted her tummy.
"You're pregnant" everyone screaming in unison, gasping at the size of her baby bump when she opened her coat, before going in for hugs, Quinn had been through a lot in her short life, it was about time she had something great in her life.
Sam, Joe, and Mike sat looking at the commotion, wondering what had happened "She's pregnant" Joe told them.
"Congratulations" Sam and Mike patted his shoulder.
"And I'd love to stay and celebrate with you guys, but I've got a life to sort out with a certain woman" Sam told them getting up "I'm on a timer".
"Sam" he heard spinning round to see who it was.
"Jessie" he smiled grabbing his hand and pulling him into his chest.
"Jess" Mike sprung up grabbing his hand to do the same "This is Joe, Quinn's new husband and baby daddy".
"Wow" Jessie laughed "Congratulations" he shook Joe's hand "I'm looking for Rachel actually, have any of you seen her?" Mike pointed him in the direction of the emotional women "Thanks" he walked off towards them.
"I'll come with you" Sam followed him, determined to get Mercedes alone tonight, Joe and Mike following to maybe do the same.
"Rachel" Jessie interrupted the gathering "I know you said not to follow you, I knew you'd come home, I called your Dad" he walked towards her.
St. Berry
There's had been an on and off relationship, Jessie had always kept his options open, she was never happy about it, but she'd started the game by chasing Finn, so there was little she could do. They went tit for tat on the cheating game, he'd cheat, then she'd cheat because of it, and over time she'd become the devil incarnated stealing everyone's partners. Just before Finn passed, when Jessie got one of his side chicks pregnant, that was a terrible time for both of them, as much as they played around with each other's feelings they always thought they'd end up together and then the fact that he'd married the bitch, sent Rachel through a wormhole.
She'd gone to Finn's funeral mad at the world about her life, Jessie was marrying this random because he wanted to do the right thing, she'd begged him not to, the day before the funeral and he'd gone ahead with it anyway. She'd arranged for them to go to Finn's funeral together she was so convinced he wouldn't go through with things, but while she was at Finn's funeral he was in Florida getting married, she was stood burying Finn instead of standing at the alter waiting for him.
She'd had months of loneliness her mundane life was on repeat, it broke her, she was like a robot getting on with this life that meant nothing without someone to share it with. Then out of the blue three weeks ago, while she was on stage, she turned to see Jessie stood side stage smiling at her.
After the show they sat in her changing room while he told her about the fake pregnancy, the horrible divorce, and his relief that he was free to pursue his one true love, the night ended with a proposal that she couldn't respond to, a week turned into two and then finally she said no and ran off.
The Shack
"Jess" Rachel jumped up, surprised to see him, but happy "Yes" she grinned "I will".
"You will?" he grinned holding his hand out to grab her from the crowd, hugging her when she got to him.
"Mercedes" Sam called to her.
"I'm just…"
"Mercedes" he looked at her, not a smile on his face.
"I've got to go" she turned to her friend's "Bye" she grabbed Sam's waiting hand.
"We'll catch you up" Quinn assured her.
"Finally," he huffed, not letting her hand go, to make sure they got to the exit.
"Hey" Blaine was suddenly stood in front of them "Will told us that Rachel told him you guys were still here, and we wondered if we could have a word" he looked at Sam before looking back at Kurt.
"Please" Kurt added.
"Ten minutes?" Sam looked at Mercedes asking, she nodded her agreement, before they found seats, at an empty table near the window.
Klaine
None of the couples had come through the storm called relationship, unscathed, Blaine and Kurt weren't any different, they'd called it a day so many times in their short lives together, seen other people and Kurt had even been engaged before they saw the error of their ways. But for the past five years they'd been married and for nearly a year they'd been living in Klaine heaven, with nobody to think about except each other, Kurt was fine with that, having made an enemy of the two people outside of their relationship they really cared about.
Mercedes had made it clear there was never going to be trust between them again, and that had hurt to the core, Kurt knew that behaviour was she-devilish and then to make Blaine choose was cruel, but Rachel, with the lies, had made life difficult for them too. choose, Kurt had made sure Rachel had been told, in no uncertain terms, they were never going to mean anything to each other again, so even though they lived just a half hour away from each other they'd never had the urge to visit the woman.
Blaine had been lonely, Kurt could tell, and for a year they'd kept their mouths shut and their hearts sealed, not letting a single feeling penetrate, until arriving home from work early one evening to hear Blaine crying in their bedroom. Asking what was up, it was a struggle to get it out, but Blaine finally found the guts to tell Kurt they needed their friends, that unlike Kurt, friends were important, and Kurt vowed to try and make it better.
Blaine hadn't hesitated in calling Will to find out what Sam was doing, getting the snippet of information about them going out on Friday evening the opportunity threw itself at them, there was a chance to make it up, Blaine demanded they fly back to Lima for the weekend. They were already in town getting ready to meet up at the shack when Will called to tell them Mercedes was in town too, he'd seen her going into the shack, which meant it was the perfect opportunity to stamp on all the crap that had gone on between the four of them, so he was bowing out.
Kurt had bottled out, ranting about being shamed, not being able to take that rejection again and Mercedes giving that look reserved for the depth of her disappointment in someone "Look into her eyes, no matter what her face say's her eyes tell the truth" Blaine successfully stopped the meltdown.
"How do you know that?" Kurt's head jumped up to ask.
"Sam's my best friend, she's the love of his life, I watch them handle each other" so they got ready and made the journey to the shack.
The Shack
"So" Blaine sat down looking at Mercedes and then Sam "God it's good to see you guys again" the feeling creating a smile "We have a hell of a lot to talk about, I'm aware we can't do this all in one night, I guess we want to clear some air" Blaine grabbed Kurt's hand, the squeeze begging Kurt to loosen up "Make some apologies" Blaine looked at Mercedes.
"I'll start" Kurt suddenly pipped up "Mercedes I was an animal, I deserved one of those bitch slaps you always wanted to dish out, I'm so ashamed of my actions, and totally upset at what I did, I knew what I was doing" looking at Blaine for a second, alerting everyone to the fact that what was about to be said had never been shared before "I guess I was jealous, I mean I'd been your best friend since forever, and then in comes Sam with that hair, eyes and lips and you just left me" whining like a baby.
"You had Blaine" Mercedes gasped, her tone just as childish.
"Yeah, but you remember how you were when Blaine and I first got together?".
"Jealous hated that hair, those eyes" she laughed.
"And I just used that Berry stuff to spend more time with you, I was such a jerk" Kurt looked at Sam "And honestly, it wasn't anything personal against you, I just wanted my friend back".
"We all said some pretty messed up stuff" Sam looked around the table "And" he looked at Mercedes "We've hopefully all grown up a bit since then, what do you say we park this, set up a dinner date and thrash stuff out?"
"It is a bit loud in here" Blaine giggled "Is it karaoke night or something?"
"Actually yeah, but we've been up already" Mercedes replied "The others are over there" she pointed to the other side of the room.
"Everyone's here?" Kurt gasped.
"Everyone, so come on" Mercedes encouraged them to go say hello, Sam rolled his eyes and followed.
"Hi" Blaine smiled, freezing when Rachel was seen in the midst of them "Rachel" slipped out before Blaine could help it, looking back for Kurt's reaction, who was busy hugging Santana Tina and Brittany, and giggling when Quinn joined in, eventually speaking to Mike, getting introductions to Joe, finally stood next to Blaine, looking down at Rachel.
"Rachel" Kurt nodded, bitter in his voice, looking at the cause of so much loss, but right now building bridges with Mercedes and Sam was too important to flounder now "We'll talk, but not now" their heads nodded in response "I'm trying to sort things with Mercedes".
"I'll take that, but you'll come to the wedding?" she held her hand up, flashing the ring Jessie had just put on it.
"Maybe" Kurt smiled, genuinely happy for her.
"Is everything alright?" Sam looked at Mercedes talking into her phone as she walked towards the exit "Mercedes" he called after her, shit this time was fast.
"Sam" she held her finger up at him "Can we take a rain check, I'll call" he couldn't tell if she was talking to him or someone on the phone, but just like that she'd put him on hold again.
"Sam" Santana snapped him out of his thoughts, he'd already gotten ready for another wait, not knowing when it was going to end "Is that what you really want?" she looked at the door.
"I'd never want to stop her from doing what she needs to do" he looked around the room, puzzled at everything going in slow motion.
"Even if it means stopping what you need to do?" Quinn asked him, at that moment he couldn't hear anything else.
"It's time" Brittany snapped him into motion.
"And I know for a fact she came back for you" Tina told him; Sam stood listening to his mind, remembering his words of encouragement to Mercedes all those years ago and seeing her smile of relief when he told her he was putting his foot down tonight.
"Mercedes" he called walking quickly towards the exit "Mercedes" he caught her attention she was still on the phone, she held her finger up pausing him. He stood waiting for her to close the call, she was listening more than talking, that wasn't her, something was wrong.
"Is that your final word?" she asked her voice told him she really didn't care for the conversation she was having "Yes, that's what I said" she giggled "You better believe it" she laughed, turning to look at Sam, and taking a second to look at him.
"What?" he stepped closer to her "What's happened?" she shook her head telling him nothing.
"Peter I've got to go" she clicked the phone off before anything else could be said "Remember our first Prom?" she looked back at Sam.
"Sure" he smiled "We went to breadsticks, ordered the $8.99 all you could eat special, and watched it go cold".
"We stopped right here" she looked up at the shack "And you said…"
"I feel like this could be the biggest thing Mercedes Jones" he finished the memory.
"And I said…"
"You better believe it's the biggest thing".
"I want this to be an even bigger thing Mr Evans, I want to be Mrs Evans, what do you say?"
"I can't believe you beat me to it, yes" he laughed pulling her into him for a kiss "Let's go home" he turned to look into the Shack.
"What's up?" she asked, of him stood there watching Tina, Blaine and Kurt on stage.
" I'm looking at the engaged man in the window" he laughed.