Christmas Day
"Morning" Mercy smiled up at Sam when his eyes opened "Happy Christmas"
"Happy Christmas" he stretched "Gosh" he looked down at all three of them mingled together "Did we sleep like this?"
"She's still asleep" Mercy whispered
"No, I'm not" Asia looked up "I'm just thinking"
"About?" he asked
"I'm going to have to tell my parents, aren't I?" she looked up at them
"Yes" Mercy replied "And we need to talk" she looked at Sam
"Breakfast first" he announced, watching Asia get up
"I need the bathroom quick" Mercy jumped up
"Use the one in my bedroom, third door on the left" he told her watching her leave
"Bathroom" Asia went running off, leaving him laughing at the two of them
Sam & Mercy
Mercy came out the bathroom to see Sam sitting on his bed "Am I supposed to fall into bed?" she laughed looking at him sat there with no top on
"That's entirely up to you" he smiled "But at some point, we need to talk"
"About?"
"Asia" he looked at his hands "And us" he looked back at her
"What's up?" she sat next to him
"We're making promises to her, that we'll be there for the baby, we'll be around, how are we going to do that from Texas and California?"
"I don't know, commute I guess"
"Really?" he laughed "The baby won't stop crying, are we going to get on a plane?"
"If we weren't busy, yes"
"Mercy" he sighed "I get it, we haven't had to take life serious ever, but this is Asia, our daughter, and she's asking us to make promises, we need to agree on what we can promise"
"So, what do you suggest we do?"
"Here" he gave her a notepad "Write down what you're willing to give up, to support our daughter"
"I'd give up everything" she threw it back at him "Every, damn, thing"
"Your artist is about to break out, your studios are raking it in, you're going to give all that up to come live in Lima?"
"Live in Lima, hell no" she giggled nervously "She could come live with me in Cali"
"So, when am I going to see her?" he asked
"You can come over we'll take it in turns to pay"
"Mercy" he moaned looking into her eyes, she smiled at the familiarity, he was looking at her like she was his world again
"Sam" she moved closer "Kiss me" she watched him pull her face to his and kiss her lips, he sat back for a second contemplating his next move, before he pulled her back to him and kissed her harder "That's another alternative" she pulled back licking her lips with a smile
"I guess I could teach anywhere if I needed to" he watched her face coming towards him again
"You know I'm not moving to Texas"
"Why not?" he jerked away from her
"Come here" she pulled him by the back of his neck towards her again "I think we need more argument" she kissed him again "A lady that gets anything she wants" she reminded him
"Me and my big mouth" he smiled pulling her down onto the bed with him while their mouths fought for the win
"Wow" she got up and walked over to the door "Could I get a shower?"
"Sure" he smiled, sitting back to watch her peal her clothes off as she walked across the room "I guess it's time to hear my side of this argument" he told himself getting up to follow her to the bathroom, his clothes falling as he moved
"What took you so long?" she stood naked, turning the taps on
"Still greedy" he laughed
"No, still waiting for an apology" she stepped into the shower and looked back at him
"Apology?" he watched water falling down her, forming it's own waterfall between her legs
"Yeah, nearly 16 years ago, you promised me something, and the next day you broke it" she splashed the warm water on her skin
"I got banished to Nebraska for trying to keep that damn promise" he laughed
"So now you have the chance to make it right, why are you planning on leaving me again?" she grabbed his sponge
"I'm not leaving you" he stepped into the shower, grabbing the sponge off her "I'm here, now, ready to make good on that" he squeezed the wet sponge and watched the water trickle down her body "I've been craving you for nearly 16 years Mercy Jones" his eyes watching her lips with intent
"And I've been craving Cedes forever" she grabbed his hair and pulled him into her
"I can't believe you used Cedes as your stage name" he laughed
"But we know who we call Cedes" she looked at him smiling
"I'll try to unleash that beast again" he grabbed her bottom lip with his teeth
The water trickled down him, forcing her hands to rub soap into his chest, it was as hard as she remembered, she closed her eyes and let her hands slide down his chiselled arms, his flat chest pressing against her, the need to remember every touch was somehow important right now, "I remember you" her hands wondering as much as her mind
It had been a while, but right now they felt like those 15 year olds, in the alley at the back of his house fumbling around in the dark, trying to have sex "But this time I know exactly what I'm looking for" he mumbled in her ear, closing his eyes to relive the memories
Hot steam filled the air, it was hard to know who or what was producing it, his mouth carved it's trail down her body, his mouth providing her pleasure "You learned some skills" she kissed him when he stood up
"Come on, turn around, we haven't got enough time to chat" his spun her around to face the wall, lifted her leg and took what he wanted "I need to see if I remember how to activate Cedes" he whispered in her ear
"I hope you remember" she turned to look at him "And I love you" she stroked his cheek before her hand went back to the wall to support her
"I love you too" he hissed, grabbing her hair, and kissing her neck to muffle his loud groans, pretty soon she was breathing heavy, trying to hold in high pitched note they called Cedes "Let her out" he whispered, smiling as she let out the note louder than he remembered
"Sam" she screeched as waves of muscle spasms passed through her body, he stilled, and let it happen for her, pulling out when he felt himself bursting
"Sorry I don't have protection"
"Thanks" she rested against the wall catching her breath, he stood making sure the very last drop had left his body
"Cedes activator still works" he laughed "Was that a good start to making things right between us?" he grabbed the soap
"I'll answer that later" she giggled
"You're louder than ever, hotel tonight?"
"You got louder too" she laughed "Book it"
"Come on, Asia will be knocking soon" he washed her down and watched her step out the shower before washing himself "Hey" he came out the bathroom calling her to him "I just" he put his hand down the front of her trousers "Commando" he smiled "I was wondering what you had on, if your panties were on my radiator"
"It's just till I get home"
"I don't have a problem with it" he grabbed himself some clothes to get dressed, and watched her do her hair before they left for breakfast "We'll need to find out how serious Asia is about wanting our help" he mentioned as they walked down the stairs
"What do you mean?" Mercy stopped walking
"She might just be mad at her adoptive parents right now, and not mean any of it"
"Is that what you think?"
"It's not what I'm hoping this is, but we don't know do we"
"We should ask"
"No" he pulled her to him "This has to be her choice, not forced, it's a big deal"
"It will just break my heart if she leaves again"
"Mine too, but it's still her choice"
"I knew things were going too well" she moaned
"Don't give up, just don't expect anything until we're told" they carried on to the kitchen
"Happy Christmas" Ryder laughed at them walking in "Asia told us you guys all slept on the couch outside all night"
"Yeah, Happy Christmas everyone" Sam laughed turning to Mercy "What do you want?"
"I'll have what everyone else is having" she told him finding a seat at the table "Morning, Happy Christmas everyone" she sat looking at Marley, Ryder and Adam "Happy Birthday" she smiled at Ryder, who had his son in a neck chock hold
"Thanks" he smiled
"Are you busy later?" Marley asked, slapping Ryder to let Adam go
"I don't have to be, I don't know what Asia's got planned yet though"
"I thought we could hit the local wine bar this evening, catch up, we've got a few years to get through, plus Ryder wants a quiet one"
"I'd love that" Mercy smiled watching Sam place a plate of bacon and eggs in front of her "Thanks" he kissed her and sat down
"Oh" Ryder raised his eyebrow, letting Adam go "You two are an item?"
"I think it's safe to say we've been an item for nearly 17 years" Sam laughed
"You sneaky..."
"We haven't actually been together for 17 years" Sam laughed "But we've been connected"
"This is turning into one of those deep conversations" Marley rolled her eyes
"It's breakfast" Sam laughed
"When Sam came to live with us, we knew it was about a girl" Ryder told Mercy "Cried like a baby every night"
"Hey" Sam frowned
"What?" Ryder asked "It's true" he laughed "But if you'd have told me there was a child involved I'd have fought with you against Mom and Dad's decision" he told him sincerely "I can't imagine missing a minute of Amy or Adam's life" he looked into his brother's eyes "Sorry Dude"
"We've discussed all that with her and to be honest she's taken it all better than we have" Mercy told them
"It sounded to me like they had more making up to do than you guys" Marley told her
"Maybe" Mercy looked at her breakfast before tucking in, they small talked through breakfast, Mercy eventually grabbed her purse and got up to make her way home "Do you want to come?" she asked Sam
"Yeah" he got up and threw his napkin on the table "What about Asia?"
"Amy knows where Mercy's parents live, she can bring her round if she needs to" Marley told them "See you guys tonight"
"What are we doing for your birthday?" Sam asked
"Drinks and conversation later" Marley told him "Where are you going?" she watched them walking to the patio
"Getting some memories" Sam told her, pulling Mercy with him to take the walk down the back entry of his parent's home, they just about got out the gate before he attacked her lips "Suddenly that old feelings back again" he laughed "I can't bear the thought of anything alien closer to you than me" his hand slid down her trousers
"You better be ready to finish what you're about to start" she smiled at his hand movements
"You used to like my finisher traits" he kissed her neck, grabbing her mouth when the noise started, smiling when she shuddered in his hand, he put his hand on her chest covering her heart "I'm listening for our new beat" he closed his eyes and took in the sound, opening them when she finally relaxed "I still feel the same as I did at the bus top that first day, is that possible?"
"Very" she looked into his eyes "You're a dream I never thought would come true, but twice"
"Same dream" he smiled "You okay?" he moved his hand and kissed her lightly
"I'm fine, you?"
"I need tonight to rush on"
"Come on, let's get to my parent's house"
Mercy's Parents
"Morning, happy Christmas" Mercy walked into the house shouting "Happy Christmas Grandma" she smiled at the woman, happy to see her
"Happy Christmas Sweetheart" Neville smiled at her, watching her kissing her Grandma and Mother before getting to him, Sam taking the unexpected hugs as he followed her before shaking Neville's hand "So last night was more than a revelation" he let Sam's hand go
"Yesterday was a pleasant surprise for us" Mercy told him "Asia's been an angel, but we also found each other again" she looked at Sam
"Oh" Neville looked at Annette "You two are…"
"What does Asia think of all that?" Annette joined the conversation
"We haven't told her yet" Sam told them
"So, this is pretty new?" Annette looked at him
"Thought about it yesterday, confirmed it this morning" Mercy snapped "And to be honest, no disrespect or anything, but it's got nothing to do with you" she looked from her mom to her Dad "Who I see"
"Although if Asia is going to be in our lives, we'd like her to be in yours too" Sam added
"We'd love that" Annette smiled "I know I said it last night, but I need to tell you two again, we made a mistake, and I know it's not enough but all I can think to say is sorry" she looked into her daughter's eyes "We truly believed we were doing the right thing at the time"
"There are always going to be... questions" he settled with, "But Asia wants to build relationships, and it's about making up time with her, and the new baby" Sam jumped in seeing Mercy about to kick up a storm. They were nowhere near ready to forgive them, they'd kept them at a distance for the past 16 years and that wasn't by coincidence, they were never going to forgive them for taking their baby away, and to add to the fire they were never going to forgive his parents either.
"Young lady" her Grandma called her over to the table, she took a seat next to her
"Grandma?" she took time to listen to what the woman might say
"I know you don't forgive your parents" she whispered "And I don't think you ever will, but try and understand why they were doing what they did, where we come from, it just wasn't the done thing, you'd have been banished in our country"
"I was banished Grandma"
"I know" she grabbed her granddaughter's hand "And I told your parents they were wrong about that, and I mean big time" she laughed Mercy felt a bit better knowing that had happened
"Thank you" she giggled
The door knocked, making everyone jump "That's Amy" Annette laughed "She's always banging the door like she's the damn police" Mercy went to answer it
"Morning Grandma, Nanny, Granddad" Asia laughed hugging onto Mercy, before going to greet them
"I have to get changed" Mercy told everyone, disappearing from the room, returning twenty minutes later in a black jump suit and denim jacket with some slinky slip on shoes and matching bag, Asia left Sam and moved quickly into Mercy's arms, starting conversation
Sam stood watching them together, he felt he was always going to be involved in this child's life because Mercy and he had this bond that grew more when she was around. Maybe he'd missed the childhood hobbies, recitals, knowing her as a child and everything that came with that, but there was just so much more to come. She was worryingly displaying needy behaviour and he wondered if that was as a consequence of them leaving her as a baby, or if she genuinely craved love, and if so, why, when she'd told them she'd had a great childhood.
He hadn't done much of any worth with his life to date, but stood watching them, smiling and talking to each other, he knew he wanted to be the best he could be for them, be that positive role model his Dad always talked about.
"You alright with that?" Mercy was suddenly stood in front of him asking
"With?" he looked at her
"Asia wants us to drop her off at her parent's house"
"Yeah sure" he looked at Mercy wondering why she was so hyped about that "When?"
"Now please" Asia grabbed hold of his arm smiling up at him, his heart swelled so big he had to breathe hard to make it pump again
"Mr and Mrs Jones, Grandma" he looked at Mercy's parents smiling still "Dinner's here later i hear, see you all then" he watched Mercy kiss her parents before they left
Devonshire Drive
Asia had enough going on in her life right now to keep them entertained for the drive down. She'd met her Grandparents Evans officially and they'd promised her some family heirloom crib she was more than excited to see. Her Uncle Ryder had invited her to spend some time up in Nebraska with them before the baby came, she was in two minds as to when to take that trip, because she'd just met her natural parents, and she wasn't sure she'd ever want to leave them again.
To add to the mix her Great Grandma Hilton had invited her and the baby to Ghana to see where her Grandparents had grown up, she thought it was all talk until her Grandparents Jones offered to pay for the whole thing, everything that had happened in the last 24 hours had blown her mind "God I've missed a whole life" she finally flopped back in the seat telling Sam and Mercy
"This has all been a bit rushed for you, hasn't it?" Mercy looked at her
"How are you feeling? Sam looked at her through his mirror, sharing a smile
Asia: Then he smiled at me pa-rum pum pum pum me and my drum (Ooh hey yeah) me and my drum (Ooh hey yeah)
Mercy & Sam: Oh, little Baby, pa-rum pum pum pum,I am a poor boy too pa-rum pum pum pum
Asia: I have no gifts to bring, pa-rum pum pum pum
Mercy & Sam: Oh, worthy of a King, pa-rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Mercy: Shall I play for you? shall I play for you? All: On my drum (Ooh hey yeah)
'Little Drummer Boy' by Johnnyswim
"Take a left here" her voice suddenly flat
"What's up?" Mercy asked concerned
"Nothing" she sunk into the seat "I'll be fine once this is over" she looked out the window "This next drive" she pointed to the left of them "Come in with me" she opened the car door and turned to ask
"Sweetheart" Sam huffed, he'd have liked nothing more, but for all legal purposes, these people were her family, he couldn't get between that "You need to do this bit alone, but we'll be right here" he grabbed Mercy's hand
Asia sat half in the car, her legs dangling, contemplating her next move, tapping her hand on her leg showing them she was nervous "I wonder, if I'm being real, do I speak my truth or do I filter to how I feel, I wonder, wouldn't it be nice, to live inside a world that isn't black and white..." 'Wonder' by Shawn Mendes
"You can do this" Mercy grabbed her hand, realising this might be the last time they saw their child "We're fine with whatever happens"
"Are you sure?" she smiled
"Positive" Mercy let her hand slip out of hers watching her make her way to the house, Sam grabbed her hand and squeezed it tight watching their daughter disappear into the house for what might be the last time
"Are we doing the right thing?" he asked
"God, I hope so, I don't know how I'm going to get through losing her again"
"Maybe we'll have each other this time"
"Maybe" she smiled "I'd like that"
It seemed like they were only sat there for seconds before the door swung open and Asia was stood in the doorway shouting. It wasn't a quiet neighbourhood, they could hear music and shouting coming from across the road, but it was still a shock to hear it coming from Asia's home
"Should we drive off?" he asked watching the emotional verbal war spill into the street
"What?" Mercy gasped when the woman came out of the house "No fucking way" she gasped grabbing her phone out of her bag "Mom" she shouted down the phone
Sam sat not knowing which one to support, Asia was bursting a blood vessel on the front lawn, her hands flying about like she wanted to hit someone, while Mercy was having just as much of a meltdown, only she was sitting, with her hands flying all over the place "What?" he asked catching her conversation "You know her?"
"Mom" she cried down the phone "Swear to me you didn't know who Asia went to" she put the phone on speaker
"Sweetheart we don't know"
"I'm sitting her watching Asia arguing with her Mother, who looks very much like Jane Hayward, Maggie Haywards eldest from church"
"Are you sure it's her?" Annette asked "I mean the Haywards left church kind of in a hurry back then, but we thought it was because Joseph got himself a promotion"
"Did he get himself a promotion or a grandbaby?"
"I don't know Sweet…"
"Mom I got to go" Mercy closed the phone off and made to exit the car, ready for a fight
"Mercy" Sam grabbed her hand "Wait, think about this"
"What's there to think about, I watched this bitch cut a girls hair off for looking at her man, and they were in freaking church at the time, she's got an evil side, I've never liked her, and to think Asia's been with her"
"I'm sure she went through checks" Sam looked back at Asia still performing, a slight smile on his face for the trait connection between the two females in his life right now
"Is this funny to you?" Mercy snapped at him
"No" his eyes met hers "Of course not" he gripped her hand tighter
"As long as she's left that damn Mason guy, we might have some hope, should I go in?" she asked, looking at what was going on "He was the Minister's son, the worst guy in the church" she rolled her eyes "I'm sure he was sleeping his way through the congregation" she half laughed "We need to rescue that woman, Asia's going to break" she couldn't take any more of Asia's ranting
"Be cool about this, remember we owe these people"
"Are you seeing the same thing as me, does that look like we owe these people?" she looked across the lawn at Asia arguing in the street with Jane "Does that look like happy to you?"
"No" he held her hand "But we're the real parents, we're being tested, and we need to step up right now, there are no more chances for us, this is it"
"I hate when you're right" she smiled "But I love that you are"
"We can do this" he leaned in and kissed her "Come on" he got out the car and went round to help her out
Slowly they walked across the path listening to the conversation between their child and her Mother "Mercedes Jones?" Jane stopped talking to her daughter abruptly "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Will you two shut the fuck up" Mason appeared at the front door "Acting like trash out there"
"Mason?" Mercy gasped
"What are you doing here?" Jane asked again
"We dropped Asia off" Sam told her
"Yes Mother, I did it without your damn help, I found my biological parents" Asia screeched
"Get inside" Jane snapped at her
"You don't get to tell me what to do anymore, you washed your hands of me, remember?" Asia snapped at her
"Asia" Jane turned to look at her daughter "For once in your damn life, will you do as you're told"
"They might as well come in, they're not leaving without me" Asia told her, everyone stood staring at each other for a while before Jane looked around, shook her head, and invited them in
Surprisingly the conversation wasn't about Asia, it was about them, how Mason was once a very well to do Lawyer who had pilfered funds from one of his clients to feed a gambling addiction, how drink eventually added to the mix and now Jane felt stuck. Mason lay asleep on the couch while Jane unfolded their life to them, Mercy felt sad, it had taken Jane all these years to find out what she's seen at the age of 10.
"Asia coming home pregnant was the last straw for him" Jane looked at her husband "He'd been violent, many times towards me" she looked at Mercy "But I fear for her life and that of the baby" she wiped a tear "So I encouraged her to leave, and I still encourage it, he's not in a good place"
"So, what about you?" Mercy asked, Sam sat looking at the sleeping man, trying to stop himself from dragging him up and slapping him into next week
"I just make sure there's a bottle waiting for him and a couch for him to fall onto, his Dad would literally die if he knew the whole story"
"Is Minister McCarthy and his wife well?" Mercy asked
"Mom passed a while ago, but Dad's fine, he moved to Canada, years ago to another calling" Jane smiled
"So how did you know Asia was our child?" Mercy asked
"I knew she was yours, I watched you in church for nearly 14 years" Jane smiled "She has your mannerisms, she loves music, like her Grandma, but it wasn't until I saw her friend Amy's Dad that I linked the dots, I used to see you two on the bus together"
"We thought we were so careful" Sam smiled
"You wouldn't have noticed me, I was obsessed with this one" she pointed at Mason "I used to follow everyone, trying to catch them with him, just so I could beat their asses" she chuckled "More fool me" she rolled her eyes
"We're all fools when it comes to love" Mercy smiled touching her hand
"I'm guessing she's upstairs packing her things, you've seen my situation, there's no way I can cope with Asia here right now, the risk is too high, and then a baby in the mix" she wiped a tear "This isn't how I expected our journey as parents to end, but when we took her on, all we wanted was the best for her, and today" she looked into Mercy's eyes "My agenda is still the same, and right now, I'm praying you guys are the best thing for her"
"I'm not going to lie and say that isn't music to my ears" Mercy squeezed her hand "But I want you to know, from the bottom of my heart, that I'm so grateful for you taking her in, giving her a good life, and knowing when your best isn't good enough anymore, this has to hurt"
"Like a mother fucker" she laughed through tears
"Thank you, for everything" Sam hugged Mercy
"I'll just go help her" Jane pulled away from Mercy and went to see her daughter
Sam and Mercy sat looking at each other, they'd walked into the house thinking they were at least going to lose their daughter, now smiling at the realisation that they'd be leaving with a daughter and a grandchild to boot. They were silently happy, but it was clear from today's performance, life with Asia wasn't all about roses and sweetness, their daughter, like them, was nowhere near perfect.
Asia and Jane's conversation earlier had ended in a confrontational argumentative mess but by the time they came down the stairs with Asia's case they were both hugging and crying, Jane finally taking the lead on the situation, kissed Asia's forehead and letting her go
"We'll do our very best" Sam assured her
"I can't thank you guys enough for doing this for our girl" Jane smiled, stepping forward to hug Mercy "Do you mind?" she asked pointing at Sam
"No" Mercy frowned at the question, watching her hug Sam
"Look after her" she whispered in his ear
"We will" Sam assured her, turning at Asia grabbing his hand
"You better get out of here before he wakes up" Jane looked at Mason still sleeping
"Okay" Sam took Asia's case and said his goodbyes, watching Mercy and Jane hugging
Asia grabbed Mercy's hand and all three walked through the door and down the drive towards the car "Hold up" Asia let them go and turned to run back to her Mom. Sam and Mercy looked at each other defeated, it would have been hard for them to do too, he put her case down and stood watching her hugging her Mom "I'll send pictures" Asia told her "But I won't be back"
"Have a good life sweetheart" Jane stroked her face, watching her turn to get back to Sam and Mercy
"Okay let's do this" she told them picking her case up and walking towards the car. They got off the drive and past the house "Stop" Asia shouted, everyone jerking as the car came to a sudden halt "That was the last time, I'm ever going to refer to them as my parents, from this moment Mom, Dad, you're it" she kissed both of them on the cheek and sat back in the seat "Happy Christmas" she grinned
"Happy Christmas" they replied
"I think this baby's a boy" she told them closing her eyes