Meeting Asia
"Sweetheart" Mercy got closer to console her, pulling back when the girl looked up at her sharply "Sorry" she smiled awkwardly
"It's fine, I just wasn't expecting to meet you" she told her "My real name is Asia by the way"
Mercy looked at Sam the pain apparent in both their eyes, he needed to step up, that was what she was asking him to do right now "How did you find me?" he asked, looking at this younger version of himself in female form
"I'm friends with Amy Evans, we met in the local jewellers one summer" she wiped her face and looked at him, if she'd have been a toddler he'd have scraped her up in his arms and hugged the life out of her, but she was almost a woman
"Why did you say you're name was Alicia?" he asked
"I was scared, she's my alter ego"
"Did your family take good care of you?" Mercy asked wiping the child's tears
"Yes, as best they could" she rolled her eyes
"Sorry" Mercy smiled awkwardly
"It's fine" Asia smiled, frowning at Mercy letting her go
"Are you alright?" Mercy asked concerned
"I was actually enjoying being in your arms, strange" she looked at her clearly still thinking about the feeling, Mercy quickly wrapped her arms around the child "I wouldn't mind" she looked at Sam sat watching them, he smiled and went to join them, all three stood in the middle of the hotel reception hugging, crying, and eventually giggling
"I guess you want answers?" Sam finally broke away asking
"I do" she sat down, watching them do the same "And please don't dress anything up, I haven't come to lay blame, I want to understand who I am, that's all" she told them
They sat telling her about their forbidden relationship, the pregnancy which forced them into getting the parents involved, they'd hoped for support, but got condemned, ripped apart. Mercy talked about the day Asia arrived in the world, how it broke her heart watching her parents hand her baby over to strangers, while Sam told her about his banishment to Nebraska
"We made contact again when we were 18, through social media" he looked at Mercy
"By then we were starting college in different parts of the world, and opportunities meant we never physically reconnected" Mercy told her
"Until now" Sam smiled, grabbing Mercy's hand
"What do you do?" Asia asked
"I teach and write music" Sam told her
"I sing, act, produce, and recently started managing a new artist" Mercy told her
"We chased those dreams, hoping for forgiveness one day" Sam added
"So, what did you sing?" Asia asked Mercy
"Oh, a lot of stuff" Mercy smiled "But Dance Alone was probably my most popular song to date"
"Gosh, you're Cedes?" Asia asked, holding her chest "I have a famous parent, I thought your face was familiar" she laughed "I don't want to dance alone.." she sang 'Dance Alone' by Tayla Parx
"Yeah I'm Cedes" she smiled "But right now, I want to be something else"
"Whatever you need us to be" Sam added
"Well in about six months you're going to be grandparents" Asia announced, tapping her bump
"What?" Sam's face flashed with shock, anger and happiness for a few seconds
"And before you ask Lathan has been shipped off somewhere too, I haven't seen or heard from him in over a month. My parents, who I don't want to talk about, told me I was dead to them, so I guess that relationships broken down too" she tapped her fingers on the table nodding her head
Sam and Mercy looked at each other and smiled, she was nervous "We have that in common too" Sam smiled at her tapping his finger on the table, she closed her eyes, and quietly sang
Right before I close my eyes, the only thing that's on my mind
Been dreaming that you feel it too, I wonder what it's like to be loved by you, yeah
I wonder what it's like, I wonder what it's like to be loved by..
"You" she opened her eyes and looked at them 'Wonder' by Shawn Mendes
"You've always been loved by us" Mercy told her
"So, you're not married with other children?" Asia asked
"No" Mercy told her
"No" Sam laughed
"You know what, this is going too smooth, something is going to mess it up, I can feel it" Asia laughed
"I sort of imagined you hating us, blaming us" he told her
"I think maybe it started out that way, but after what my parents said, I can sort of understand, it's not easy doing anything different in this place" she frowned "Lima's so behind the times"
"So, your pregnancy, have you made any decisions?" Mercy asked
"I want to keep my baby, if Lathan should ever decide to try and find me, I'd want our child with me"
"We'd help no doubt" Sam told her "I mean I live in Texas and Mercy lives in California, but we could work something out" Mercy looked at him, she knew he was already making plans in his head
"You guys would do that for me?" she held her chest smiling
"Listen" he changed the subject, not having had the conversation with Mercy yet "It's my Mom, your Grandma's, birthday party later today, I couldn't think of a better present, you should come with us" he looked at Mercy
"Us?" Mercy gasped, the last time she'd seen his parents they'd stood on the street telling her to move away from their gate, they were likely to do the same again with this revelation
"Yeah, us, all three of us, show them even time couldn't keep us apart" he looked at Asia "What do you say?"
"I need a dress" she laughed
"I do too" Mercy told him
"We were going shopping after this anyway, come on, this trips on me" Sam told them
"I need to get your Mom a present" Mercy reminded him, they finished off their drinks, and went about shopping
Mercy and Asia sat in the cafe while Sam was in the men's section, shopping and talking, by the third suit Asia felt comfortable enough to broach the subject of being given away, there was hurt on both sides, while the two women sat trying to understand the feelings none of them had taken the time to deal with before "I really don't hold any grudges, I had a good life, and I think I understand what you went through" Asia told Mercy watching her burst into tears
"What's wrong with her?" Sam walked up to them asking, shocked at the scene
"We were just.." Mercy wiped her tears, not wanting to break a confidence, she said no more "I'm fine" she smiled "Honest"
"That one looks nice, is that it?" Asia asked, her Dad stood there in a black waistcoat and trousers with a grey shirt
"This is the look" he smiled "Are you two going to get something?"
"I'm going to that boutique across there" Mercy pointed to it
"That's expensive" Asia gasped
"I'll keep Asia company" Sam told Mercy, watching her get up
"So, what do I need to know about Sam Evans?" Asia sat forward in her chair interested to learn something new about the man
He sat telling her about his journey since Mercy and he parted, how hard it was keeping their history a secret, his job, the fact that secretly, he'd never stopped hoping that one day, they'd all be together again
"Done" Mercy was suddenly stood at the table, smiling down at them
"That was quick" Sam smiled watching her sit next to him
"I've been gone over an hour" she looked at her phone "Your turn young lady" she looked at Asia, they all got up to go do her shopping, eventually the afternoon was over, and it was time for them to go their separate ways,
Mercy got home and was shocked that her parents were making ready for a party too, more so when she realised it was the Evans party, and whatever this night was going to be, it was playing out in front of them too
"I didn't know you kept in touch with the Evans'" Mercy commented as she grabbed her shawl and headed for the door
"Hated each other for a while, then about 2 years ago, we started talking, we have something in common"
"Mmm" Mercy rolled her eyes, funny how the two families had in common what they denied their children "Bye, have a good night" they deserved everything they were going to get tonight
"You too" they called back
The Party
Sam was going to be there already, Mercy had planned on getting there before Asia, their surprise guest, shocked when she started trembling as she took the short walk round to his house, the vivid memories of the past, pleasant and unhappy, flashing as she made each step. She was getting closer to the last spot she'd seen Sam all those years ago, she heard the music coming from the house, and closed her eyes gathering some courage, she had to do this, she stood tapping her foot, finding a beat, that had long become her courage 'I don't wanna, I don't wanna...'. She pushed the gate open "I frigging well do" she hissed walking up to the door, knocking it and jumping back when it swung open "Hello?" she peeped into the empty hallway, stepping inside before calling again "Hello" the music was much too loud for anyone to hear, she carried on inside
The dowdy brown doors had been replaced by white framed glass doors, the place looked much airier "Mercy" Sam came through the kitchen door smiling "I timed that just right" he grabbed her hand "Take no notice of any of them"
"I think my parents are coming"
"All the better" he grinned "I'm in the mood to mess things up a bit, long time coming"
"Just be nice about it" she laughed, knowing he wasn't about to go easy on the people that had wrecked their lives
"Mom, Dad" his voice raised as he walked into the kitchen "Remember Mercy Jones from around the corner?"
"Yes, the Jones'" his Mother turned, to him stood with their hands clasped "Is this Mercedes?"
"Yes Mrs Evans" Mercy smiled "Happy birthday" she handed her a present
"Thank you dear" she smiled, taking it "Are your parents coming?" Sam squeezed Mercy's hand, he wanted to get into this right now
"I think they might be" Mercy smiled, watching the woman inspect the wrapped box
"Hello" his Dad smiled giving his hand "So what brings you back to Lima?"
"My parents" Mercy laughed "And Grandma"
"Yes, she's a lovely woman your Grandma" Mr Evans nodded "Enjoy yourself, grab a drink, there's finger food out there, hot food later"
"Thank you" Mercy smiled, following Sam across the kitchen and out into the back garden "Thank you" she looked up at Sam as they walked "I know that was hard"
"You have no idea"
Everything was very elegant, trees lit up with coloured lights, music pumping, people stood about dancing, talking or singing along to the music, drinking, eating, laughing, they stopped to take it all in for a second before Sam started walking again "Ryder, Marley, this is Mercy Jones" he stopped in front of his brother, he was a lot shorter than Mercy remembered from the photo Sam had shown her on the mantelpiece years ago, he looked like a giant stood next to Sam back then
"Hi" Mercy smiled at them,
"Hi" they sang back
"So, you've finally found yourself a plus one?" Ryder laughed tapping his brother's shoulder
"Yeah" Sam laughed
"Kept that quiet" Marley smiled at him "I'm happy for you"
"Believe, we're happy" Sam looked at Mercy
"Does that mean there's an announcement coming?" Ryder asked
"Kind of" he laughed looking at Mercy again, they stood talking, paying attention to the time
"Dude, we'll catch up later, just got to go meet someone"
"More guests?" Ryder rolled his eyes at his brother "Don't do things by half do you?"
"Asia" Amy shouted from across the lawn, intercepting her on her way over to Sam and Mercy "Great you could come"
"That's Amy?" Mercy asked Sam, looking at a girl of maybe 16 or 17 looking just like Sam "She looks like you"
"Yeah" Sam nodded smiling, the girls looked alike, Amy was tall like her Dad, skinny, with a long face, while Asia's had a fuller body, looked like her Dad but between them you could see the resemblance across the eyes
"I guess the Evans's gene is strong" she laughed
"Dad" Amy came rushing towards them with Asia's hand in hers "Alicia's here"
"Good to see you again Alicia" Marley hugged her
"Mercy" Ryder smiled "This is our eldest Amy" he turned to Amy "This is your Uncle Sam's friend Mercy" Amy hugged them both "And this is her friend Alicia"
"Oh, I think I know these people" Asia smiled hugging them, Amy giggling at her Mom and Dad's faces as they watched
"Ladies and Gentlemen" their Dad knocked his glass to get everyone's attention, stopping the question Sam knew was on the tip of his brother's tongue. Mercy swung round surprised to see her parents taking pride of place up front, like they were best friends "Firstly…" he carried on, everyone rolling their eyes, anything he started like that meant it was going to be a long drawn out thing.
The speech carried on for a while, only their parents were really interested in the meat of it all, Sam and Ryder stood wondering who they were talking about, they'd never managed to show them the love they'd found time to brag about to their acquired friends. Ryder and Marley and their children went up to say their bit, making the usual, censored fun of their Mom and Dad, most of it true, then, it was Sam's turn
"Okay" he looked at Mercy and Asia "I guess this is us" they both grabbed Asia's hand and stepped forward
"No" Asia pulled away "I don't want to do this" she told them "Not here"
"It's fine, we'll wait" Sam told her walking towards his parents to do his usual dutiful son thing, leaving Mercy to deal with Asia
They sat on one of the garden benches, Asia crying into her hands, Mercy helplessly watching "I wanted to go up there and show everyone I had real parents" she sniffed "But I looked at them and I felt so much hate, and love at the same time, I don't know what I'm feeling, I can't do this" she cried harder
"I don't know how I would have felt about you dissing my parents" Mercy smiled at her "But girl" she moved her loose curls off her face "I look at you, nearly 16 years on, and I wished I'd have had the guts to diss them, you do what you need to do" she laughed "I might even join in" she held her finger up "But no swearing, Sam's super strict about that stuff"
"They did this to me, to us, I don't know if.."
"Is everything alright?" Sam sat next to Asia asking "I told our parents we wanted to have a conversation with them after the party" he looked at Mercy "I think they suspect we're getting married or something" he laughed "They didn't look pleased"
"They won't be" Asia told him, relaying the conversation she'd just had with Mercy
"I can't explain to you how hateful I was for a long time, against everyone, the world was my enemy after what happened to us, but eventually I had to learn that if I was going to survive this, I had to drop it all at their door" he pointed at their parents enjoying their party "It was their guilt not mine, their actions not mine, and it's them that will have to answer for what they did, even if it's just to their own consciences"
"And I agree with all that, but just then, it was hard" Asia told him, Sam and Mercy looked at each other they of all people understood what that simple word hard actually meant, they'd got each other after a while, for Asia there'd been no one for nearly 16 years
"Do you want to get out of here, do something just us?" Sam asked them
"Like what?" Mercy asked
"We could go across to Westgate, get that bowling date I promised 16 years ago, on the cards" he looked at her smiling
"Or go watch a movie" Asia looked up at him
"It was always going to be the three of us bowling anyway" Sam laughed
"I get the feeling we're doing bowling and then a movie" Mercy laughed "But I get the monopoly on hot drinks on the way back"
"This" Sam looked at Asia, pointing at Mercy as he spoke "Is a lady who's always going to get what she wants"
"We both are" Mercy told him
"Come on, let's get out of here" he got up and led them through the back gate "Familiar place?" he whispered in Mercy's ear
"I can hear you" Asia rolled her eyes following them "And I'm so jealous that Lathan isn't here" she giggled at their suspicious look, laughing louder when they let each other go and hugged her between them
The three hours were filled with fun, Sam and Mercy played bowling like it was a school challenge, Asia repeatedly defecting from the losing side, until Sam claimed his victory. Asia wanted to watch an action movie but they were all 18s so of course Sam blocked that request, which ended with a popcorn fight, nearly getting them thrown out of the cinemas before they'd even paid for their seats, they ended up watching a weepy, calling time half way through, because of Asia's continuous loud slurping in protest. With the laughing, walking, activities and talking the pent up stress was gone by the time they finally got hot drinks, and made their way back to Sam's parents
"I feel like a naughty kid" Sam laughed when they pulled up outside his parent's house "Now remember, we're not stopping you from saying what you need to, but do it respectfully" he warned Asia
"I hear you, old man" she laughed, watching him walk around the car to meet them "Are we ready for this?" Asia asked
"Ready" Mercy smiled all three holding hands before they walked back into the house
Everyone, except Mercy's Grandma, was sitting around in the living room, watching their Mom open presents "Oh Sam" Mary smiled at the door opening "Thank you for the earrings" her smile fading at the appearance of Mercy "Mercy" she looked at her husband, then across at the Jones'
"What's going on Bro?" Ryder asked
"This is Asia" Sam replied looking at his daughter
"That's Alicia" Ryder told him puzzled
"She's Asia Dad" Amy told him getting up to hug her friend, just turned cousin
"We're her parents" Sam smiled looking into his Mother's eyes
"You've fostered, Adopted?" Annette; Mercy's Mom, asked, clearly not understanding
"I didn't even know you two were seeing each other" Dwight looked at his son shocked
Sam laughed they weren't getting it "We're her natural parents"
"Dude" Ryder got up "Are you kidding?"
"No" Sam told him
"She's freaking 15, where the hell have you been hiding her, and why?" Ryder asked getting up to get to his brother
"Enter the parents" Mercy looked at her Mom
"How did you find her?" Annette asked
"I found them" Asia told her
"What's going on?" Ryder stood next to Sam asking
"Mom, Dad" Sam looked at his parents, Ryder's head turning to hear what they had to say
"We" Annette looked at Mary "We honestly thought we were doing the right thing at the time, they were too young"
"How young?" Ryder asked, "Is she why you sent him to live with us?"
"Bingo" Sam told his brother
"I don't understand" Ryder held his head "We'd just had Amy, you guys adored her, why would you do that?"
"We just thought it was for the best" Dwight stood up to defend his wife
"Best?" Asia asked looking at Mercy when the room went quiet "I promised I wouldn't disrespect you, because we're family" she stepped forward "But back then when you made that decision, it wasn't yours to make, you destroyed three people's lives" she looked back at her parents
"By the time we realised that, it was much too late" Neville; Mercy's Dad, finally came into the conversation, he stood up and walked towards them "We played our part in all this and at the time, if I'm honest, we couldn't see past our 15 year old being pregnant" he looked at Mercy "But then it was too late and we didn't know how to take it back, and I've been internally sorry for my part in all this, for many years now" he looked at Asia
"He's right" Dwight stepped forward "We could have been stronger, more supportive, anything except the way we actually were, and yes, we're deeply sorry for the way we handled things" he rested his hand on Sam's shoulder "Son, your Mother and I only ever wanted the best of life for you, you were our little miracle, and I guess we were too protective"
"And she was ours" Mercy told him "Why couldn't you see that?" she looked into her Mother's eyes
"Sweetheart" Annette stepped towards her
"Don't" Mercy snapped "I'm not ready"
"You don't get to say sorry, and think that makes everything alright" Sam told his Dad
"I..." Asia looked at Sam and Mercy "I understand how you feel, you know I do, but, I want to get to know my family" Asia told them "I guess if you're okay with that, we could try and put this behind us"
Sam and Mercy looked at each other shocked, they were just getting started, this was 16 years of anger about to unleash itself, and here Asia was, asking them to just put it all aside and work on some relationship they'd swore never to have
"So, you made friends with Amy for...?" Marley asked Asia
"No" Amy replied, "We saw we were alike in the jewellery shop in town"
"Oh" Asia felt her pocket remembering "I brought you a present" she stepped towards her new Grandma, handing her the gift "I can change it if you don't like it"
Everyone stood watching her open it "Oh" she smiled "Onyx my favourite, did you all buy a piece of the set?" she looked at them asking "Well I got a necklace, earrings and now a bracelet all green onyx"
"Oh" Mercy looked at Sam, both still in shock
"It's not a problem, I love them all, can I give you a hug?" Mary asked Asia, she didn't need to ask twice Asia flew into her arms. Mary looked up at Sam and Mercy stood watching them "I'm truly sorry, I have so much to make up to you two"
"Make up?" a stunned Ryder cut in "Is it me or is everyone taking this shit laying down, you snatched their child, sold her off to strangers, and now you're stood here saying sorry with a freaking hug?" he asked his parents
"No" Mary looked at him shocked
"Asia" he turned to his new found niece "They need to get you an extended pool, double up on birthday money for the next 15 years, new wardrobe for your 16th" he turned to Amy "What else did you get?"
"Rollerblades" Amy told him laughing
"A set of those, and anything else that takes your fancy" Ryder laughed making to pick her up
"Hey" Sam grabbed his arm, signalling for his brother not to
"Oh, and it's open door on the other grandparents, the worlds your oyster" Ryder hugged her instead
"I feel like I have a lot to ask for" Asia told her new family, making them all laugh "I guess we could start with a nursery" she patted her baby bump
"Child" Annette walked towards her "I'm not about to make the same mistake twice, whatever you need" she hugged her
"I guess I'll need tips" she told her "And from you" she looked at her Grandma Evans "If you'll teach me?"
"Child hush" Mary hugged her, rolling her eyes, tears falling as she joined in the hug
"You remind me of how your Mom looked, when she was with child" Annette smiled looking at her new granddaughter's frame
"Everything will be alright" Mary told her
Mercy couldn't help it, she burst into tears, she'd dreamt on so many occasions, of that being the response to their news all those years back, how was she supposed to sit and watch them make a fuss of Asia, knowing and feeling how she felt about what they did to her. Sam was stood feeling the exact same thing, he needed to shout, slap someone, even if it was his Mother, hugging their pregnant granddaughter did not make up for the lost years, realising Mercy was crying he hugged her
The conversations went on into the night, everyone had questions and needed answers, Asia slipping away to the kitchen when she got the chance to talk to one of her grandparents on their own. Everyone would come out wiping tears away at their emotional exchange, Asia would settle back in between her natural parents, like she was never letting them out of her sight.
Eventually the Jones' were ready to go home, Asia said she'd gotten permission to stay with Amy and everyone was ready for bed
"I'll walk Mercy home later" Sam told her parents before they asked the question, watching them make their way to the door, Sam's parents in hot pursuit they were still talking about the pending baby. It was a happy but sad scene for Sam and Mercy sat watching.
The house was finally quiet, they found their way out onto the patio, cosying up on the couch around the coal fire, Sam grabbed a blanket and they lay talking
"This has been a smile day" Sam looked up at the dark sky "Look even god's smiling" he pointed at the moon
"We have a daughter" Mercy looked up at him, they hadn't really had a second to let that sink in since the news had hit
"We've had a daughter for 15 years; we just never knew she was a daughter" he laughed "Feels great doesn't it?"
"I'm just sad we missed all those years though"
"Me too, but we could…"
"Stop thinking Sam" she laughed
"It's not impossible, we could have a baby and a grandbaby" he laughed
"We're not even together, where the hell did that come from?" she laughed looking up at him
"That's minor, we both know what we want this to be"
"I guess" she smiled "I'm scared for Asia doing this on her own though, couldn't we find Lathan for her?"
"What?" he laughed "You want more miracles, are you not satisfied?"
"Of course, I'm satisfied, but I want our baby to be satisfied too"
"I could get Anthony onto it, he's good"
"We'll wait until she asks, but it would be a nice birthday present for her"
"And you'd be a nice present for me" he kissed her forehead
"Sam's back" she giggled "Talk like that got us pregnant"
"You love the way I talk" he bit her ear
"Hi Bioparents, room for one more?" Asia came onto the patio in her PJ's, they should have known there was no way her parents were going to be in the house, and she was going to leave them alone for a second.
"Come on" Mercy smiled more than happy to have her close, they lay reading the subtitles on the muted TV screen, having stopped their pending smutty conversation
"Is it just me that can hear that?" Asia asked, tapping her hand at the sounds of the night coming at them in the garden
"No" Sam laughed, closing his eyes
"It's yours" Mercy closed her eyes, listening to her daughter humming before she started singing 'The Lighthouse Keeper' by Sam Smith
Asia (Sam & Mercy): Yeah, I see you're lonely, going in alone, fire up the engine, stoke the coal
Floating on a feeling, (fighting with the tide) hope you'll be home for (Christmas time)
Sam & Mercy: My arms will be wide open, for the moment you arrive, arrive
All: When you set sail on your journey, and happiness is far away, love will guide you 'til the morning, lead your heart down to the bay
Don't resist the rain and storm, I'll never leave you lost at sea
I will be your lighthouse keeper, bring you safely home to me, I will be your lighthouse keeper, bring you safely home to me
"I know you had a lot more to say this evening, I felt it, but carrying all that hate will hurt our relationship, and I don't want anything to hurt us" Asia told them
"I saw how much you needed it to be alright, and I respect that" Mercy told her
"I need you two to be alright too, because I'm so falling in love with you guys" Asia told them snuggling in, "Happy Christmas"
"Happy Christmas Sweetheart" Sam ruffled her hair, Mercy and he looking at each other, smiling, if they were this close after one day, imagine a lifetime.
"We missed it all" Mercy told him tears rolling down her face
"But there's so much more to come" Asia looked up at her smiling "And you're going to be there, aren't you?"
"For sure" Sam told her, kissing Mercy on the forehead, they eventually fell asleep watching their daughter sleep.