Goodbyes
"You alright?" Asia took the empty spot on the other side of her Dad on the couch, he was being unusually quiet
"Yeah" he smiled stroking a stray curl off her face "It's just a bit sad, leaving everything behind" he told her "Made me proud you, defending your Mom in the hall like that tonight"
"That's what we do isn't it?" she smiled at him "Don't worry I'll defend you too Dad" she looked up at him, his heart swelled, that was the first time she'd actually called him that "Yeah, I said Dad" she giggled at his face
"I heard you" he giggled
"There it is" she touched his cheek "You have my smile"
"You mean you have mine" he laughed, Mercy lay on his chest listening to them, smiling at the moment
New Years Eve morning, Sam's one bed was unrecognisable, packed boxes and odd bits of furniture were gone and the house was more or less clean and ready to let, he was expecting a call from the estate agent on Monday morning about that. There was nothing else to do but to wait for news from William about the pending Job, they ate out on Friday night, brought the new year in at home, and Saturday watched re-runs of old movies, before going to bed and falling asleep talking about his friends, their new life together, Asia and the baby,
January
Sunday
They woke up to Asia planted firmly in the middle of them sleeping like a baby "Hey" Sam nudged her, having nearly hugged her thinking she was Mercy
"Mm" she moaned still sleeping
"Leave her" Mercy whispered
"No" he nudged her again "Asia"
"What?" she opened her eyes, snapping
"It's yes Dad, Father or whatever" he snapped, her eyes opening fast at his tone "Don't do that again, if you're sharing our bed, ask first"
"You were asleep Dad" she told him sarcastically "I slept on top of the covers"
"Don't do it again" he told her
"We sleep commando" Mercy told her
"Oh" she jumped up "God" she rubbed her nightclothes down and left the room
"Make the coffee" Sam shouted after her, Mercy lay giggling in the bed "That wasn't awkward at all was it?" he laughed hugging her
"Not at all" she laughed "What time's our flight?"
"Just after 11am"
"Plenty of time" she pulled him onto her
"We agreed, not with Asia in the house" he pulled away "I don't have locks on the doors"
"Find a way, because what Mercy wants" Mercy smiled "Tell her to stay out and knock"
"You're too loud" he looked at the door
"So, what are you saying, we should never have sex again?"
"No" he laughed nervously "Just that here, now, isn't the right time"
"I've got just the place" she got up and grabbed his hand to make their way to the bathroom
"You're constantly getting me on that damn promise I made" he stood watching her shut the door before he grabbed her hips, pressing her against him, looking into her eyes with want before his lips found hers for a passionate kiss. "Look in the mirror" he told her watching her turn to grab hold of the sink while he pulled her further away from it his hand drawing a line down her back, while she watched him, before his lips followed, teasingly
"Sam" she hissed greedy for more
"Be patient" he laughed, his tongue invading her body "You like that?"
"I love that" she moaned
Suddenly he sucked hard, she screamed so loud he stopped and turned her around "Told you, too loud"
"You shouldn't do sexy shit like that then" she moaned pushing his head back down to finish her off
"No, I need you" he pulled his head away, "God, it's been a while" he gasped, as the stood getting breathless "I'll get this up to twenty minutes soon" he promised her as they stood clung to each other, breathing heavy
"In a year we'll still be fighting for orgasms after an hour, lap this up" she laughed turning the shower on
They showered, got dressed, stripped the bed ready for tenants, and went to get that coffee they'd ordered from Asia, she was sitting listening to music and tapping something on her phone "You guys are embarrassingly loud" she took her ear phones out seeing them cross the room
"Yeah" Mercy laughed
"I got that trait from you too" she laughed
"Too much information" Sam held his hand up at her
"Come on Dad, it's sex, I'm pregnant" she pointed at her baby bump
"What are you listening to?" Mercy changed the subject
"Just catching up on some of your songs and stuff" she jumped off the chair and went over to the kettle "I was waiting for you to show before I put the water in" she told them flicking the kettle back on "Sugar?"
"No" they both called back
"Nor milk in both, just as it comes" Sam told her
"Mom, I was thinking if you could teach me to sing, I could maybe follow in your footsteps"
"And I was thinking, who's looking after our grandbaby while you're galivanting around the country?" Sam asked
"It was just a thought" she looked at him and then at her Mom "Is he due?"
"I think we're both learning about him" she whispered
"I can hear you two" he looked at Mercy
"Coffee" Asia put in front of him "And I'm sorry if I said something wrong"
"You didn't" he grabbed her hand "I guess I'm going to miss this place more than I thought" he looked around the room "Sorry" he looked up at her before looking at Mercy "Excuse me a minute" he got up and went to the bedroom
"Is something wrong with him?" Asia asked
"Maybe he's just sad, this is responsible stuff we're doing here"
"Do you think he thinks he made a mistake?"
"What?" Mercy asked "About us?" she pointed at herself "Never, if there's one thing he does know it's that it's definitely us, it's probably to do with moving, the first one was painful for us, or maybe the wasted years, he might be stressed about what kind of father he needs to be for you, and don't forget we're still struggling with what we are to each other, there's a lot going on"
"I'm fine with whatever he wants to be to me, he's my Dad"
"And I'm sure he will be too, once he gets his bearings" she looked at the bedroom door "Actually give me a minute" she got up to go see Sam "Hey" she opened the bedroom door and stepped in
"Hey" he wiped his wet face before looking at her "Sorry"
"Don't" she walked over to him "You do what you need to do, I'm sure I'm going to flip out big time when I have to leave my fanny pad" she giggled "That came out all wrong"
"A fanny pad, is it all pink and shit?" he laughed
"No" she chuckled "It's red, cream and black"
"I think that's worse" he smiled "I think everything's just hit me, I have this responsibility, a family, you back in my life, and after everything we did she still loves us"
"Sam"
"No, I mean, it's so overwhelming to have someone love you so unconditionally like that, I shout and she apologises, I don't get it" he looked around "And leaving all this, I thought I'd die here" he grabbed her hand
"Are you alright?" she hugged him
"I'm overwhelmed with love" he wrapped his arms around her "I'm glad you're here"
"Me too" she held him for a while before she got up and held her hand out for him to grab "Come on, I can't wait to introduce you to my very red bedroom"
"Yeah" he grabbed her hand
They washed up, got dressed, grabbed their belongings, and watched Sam say goodbye to his apartment before making the journey to the airport. By the time they were sitting on the plane, Mercy had been sent five property details by estate agents, and as soon as lift off was cleared they were deep in discussion about their options
California
The five hour journey ended with them standing in the middle of a very red and black apartment in West Hollywood, on the drive home, everything about the place had Asia screaming, she'd got her itinerary planned before they even hit Mercy's block. "So, this is it" Mercy spun round in the living room telling them, the penthouse apartment spacious and neat
"It's very red" Asia laughed, looking at the red walls, white woodwork, red flooring, and black furniture, with white throws on some couches, black on others. The kitchen, black with spots of shining silver and a red splash back above the sink and cooker "Not such a typical girl"
"Very red" Sam agreed "You have got to choose one of those two houses" he told Asia "I can't live here" he laughed, moving at Mercy trying to slap him
"The studio isn't far from here maybe a half hour, depending on traffic"
"We could go see it" Sam suggested
"Everyone works even on Sundays" Mercy frowned "If we go today, they'll expect me to work, can we leave it till tomorrow?" she asked "But we need to view those two properties tomorrow morning first" she quickly added
"Is that a bedroom?" Asia pointed at a door opposite the open plan kitchen
"Yeah" Mercy walked towards her "You can have this bedroom" she opened the door to a queen sized bed "It's got it's own amenities"
"Oh a shower" Asia rushed across the room "That's where you can find me" she disappeared into the bathroom, Sam peeped in and carried on walking down the side of the kitchen to find the other room
"That's ours" she grinned at him
"Shower?"
"Yeah" she smiled "One day we're actually going to do this in a bed again"
"Our history's all about stand-up sex" he laughed, dropping his clothes as they walked across the bedroom into the bathroom. An hour or so later they finally got dressed and made their way back into the living room, Sam knocking Asia's door on the way through "Asia" he called
"Dad" she called through the door
"We're going out to have a look around, want to come?"
"The baby needs sleep, I'll be fine"
"Okay, we'll come back as quick as we can" he called through the door
"Okay"
"We're walking" Mercy told him "I don't have a car around here, it's a pain to park, people tend to walk everywhere anyway"
"That's fine" he grabbed her hand, kissing it as they left the apartment, and in turn the building "Gosh is this place made up of restaurants and bars?" he asked looking at all the empty chairs outside shops
"Pretty much" she giggled watching him shaking his head "You think it's busy now" she told him as they dodged people walking towards them "You should see it when the bars open up"
"I think that's a no thanks" he dodged someone else "I can't live this close to a town"
"Well there goes the 9am viewing" she looked at him "I thought you liked that house?"
"I do" he smiled "But I pictured it near the sea maybe, or even a little into the countryside, not smack in the middle of a city"
"Santa Monica?" she asked
"I really don't know where that is"
"Near the sea, houses are more spaced out, expensive, same distance away from work for me"
"Don't worry about the price, we can afford it"
"Are you sure?" she looked up at him, taking her phone out to update the estate agent
"I get paid for my songs you know" he looked at her
"I know you do" she giggled
"What's that giggle about?" he looked at her
"You'll see" she gripped his hand tighter and took him around the town
The evening was spent indoors, eating pizza while watching a movie, he was so engrossed in the film he never realised Mercy and Asia had fallen asleep until they were deep in sleep. He smiled at the scene, his heart swelled with love, as he sat stroking Mercy's hair wondering how he was ever able to live without his two gifts from God.
Monday
Everyone was up early, it was Mercy's first day to work and the plan was for them all to go in and get the introductions over with
He was unsure why he gasped when he walked into the very red and black studio, the red alley like corridor with four doors leading from it felt claustrophobic, they walked into the third door and he was pleasantly surprised at the tasteful grey furniture, sparkling equipment, deeper red walls and a corner couch seating a comfortable five persons "Morning" Mercy's voice stopped everyone, two guys sitting at the mixer while another, he assumed was Alex stood in the booth. "Sam, Asia this is Angelo and Earl" she pointed at them respectively "And the guy in there is Alex" she pointed at the young guy in the booth obviously at work already "Are we set?" she asked Earl, throwing her jacket and purse on the couch behind her, pointing at it for Sam and Asia to sit
"We're set" Earl looked at her, wondering who these people she'd brought into the studio were
Sam and Asia looked at each other, this wasn't the woman they'd just walked in with, she was even ordering them around "Let's hear it" she stood watching everyone shuffling to ready mode, before the band started, everyone sat listening to Alex tuning up and then suddenly he was singing '17' by Pink Sweat$ his voice caught Asia's attention from the second he opened his mouth, she sat watching him
Sam looked at Mercy as soon as the first words started, the guy was singing one of his songs, she smiled at him "You see?" she grinned
I would need a million words, if I tried to define, all the things you mean to me, for you, I'd die a thousand lives
Special kind of energy, cause love is born when hearts collide, every time you touch me, you remind that I'm still alive
The words stabbed into Asia's heart, she sat thinking about her relationship with Lathan, she'd loved him with all her heart, he'd told her he loved her, with that rugged tough boy look, ripped jeans and the sexiest deep blue eyes, he'd talked her into giving away her virginity and at the time, she wanted to do it. But everything that followed that blissful night, told her it was all wrong, she wouldn't take any of the warning signs, she watched her friends slowly fizzle out of her life, she even started skipping school because it was all so lonely. There was so much Jane and Mason had predicted, even to him getting her pregnant and running away, she really wanted to believe his parents had sent him away, but he was so strong headed, she was sat having doubts right now.
So promise you'll never change, and I'll always be the same, we'll be dancing the same groove when we're 92, the same as 17
And I'll never lie to you, just don't you hold back on me, I wanna love you as strong when we're 92 the same as 17
The singing drew her attention again, she looked up into some really hazy grey eyes and smiled at him, he was cute and singing to her, great combination as far as she was concerned, but wasn't that the combination she'd fallen into before "Hey" her Dad's voice interrupted the stare, she looked at him, she'd actually forgotten he was sitting there "That is not the focus"
"Yeah" she smiled, looking sheepishly back at the guy now smiling at her
I don't really know what's right, but I could never call you wrong, I just wanna dance with you floating over marble floors
You're something like an angel, you do something to my mind, I could see a thousand years, when I'm looking in your eyes
This was not the time or the place for what she was feeling, but there was no doubt she was feeling this boy, his sexy eyes were calling her not just to him but straight into bed. She looked down at herself for a second, she was pregnant with Lathan's baby, what the hell was she thinking. This guy's voice echoing through her as their eyes met again, the music all but stopped, it felt like they were alone in that place, and he was singing directly to her, she was so into him
Promise you'll never change, and I'll always be the same, we'll be dancing the same groove when we're 92, the same as 17
And I'll never lie to you, just don't you hold back on me, I wanna love you as strong when we're 92 the same as 17
"That was good, real good" Sam stood up when they finished, making sure he blocked the view between Asia and this guy Alex she seemed to be showing an interest in, Earl and Angelo turned to look at the man, he was giving daggers to the kid
"Cedes" Earl looked at her "Are these people booked?"
"Oh" she turned to look at them "This is Asia, our daughter"
"What?" Angelo's eyes popping at the information "You go away for a weekend and adopt a child?" he asked laughing
"No I go home for a weekend, travel back in time to 16 years ago when I fell in love with a man, we had a baby, and on Saturday we all found each other again" her tone annoyed "More questions?" she looked around
"Well" Earl got up smiling "Happy to finally meet someone who's more important to Cedes than her music" he held his hand out to Sam again "You have a beautiful daughter" he smiled at Asia
"Thank you" Sam looked back at Asia, her focus already on Alex and the musicians coming through the door, they said their names as they walked past her to shake Sam's hand but the only name she remembered was Alex "She's only 15" Sam snapped at him
"But I love music, and I'm sure you could teach me some secrets" Asia quickly added, looking angrily at her Dad
"That can happen" Alex smiled at her
"Am I standing here?" Sam asked at the looks being exchanged
"Sam" Mercy interrupted "Do you want to see the rest of the place?" she held her hand out
"Yeah" he rolled his eyes and grabbed her hand
"Is your Dad always that protective?" Alex asked once the door shut
"Well we met like ten days ago and he's been pretty constant" she laughed "We're all just getting used to the situation"
"So, are you here on holiday or something?"
"No, I live with my parents now" she smiled up at him, he wasn't much taller than her, but under that top of his it looked like it was all muscle "What?" she smiled at him staring
"So, what?"
"Too many questions" she rolled her eyes laughing
"Sorry" he smiled "I just get the urge to know everything about you"
"I guess the first thing you might want to know, is that her Mom is your damn boss" Earl told him "Second might be that Cedes didn't call wrap in that song, so get back to it"
"Yes Sir" he smiled saluting Earl and making his way back into the booth to do the song again, Asia sat waiting for her parents to get back
Mercy had taken Sam to cool down "You do know she's way past that protective Dad stage?" she looked at him
"Not from me she's not" he snapped
"Whatever it is your trying to protect her from, please remember she's already pregnant" she grabbed his arm with her free hand "She's moved here and she's got no friends, no Lathan, and two, soon to be, very busy parents, she needs friends. I trust that guy, he's nearly 21, but I'll have a word just to make sure he takes care of her, it's more than his album's worth to mess with me, with us" she smiled up at him "Please be nice to her"
"I am" he looked at her "But if it doesn't sit right, you know I have to call it"
"And we will, I promise, but making friends wasn't a crime last I looked"
"You're right" he kissed her forehead "Let's get this tour done"
February
Just over a month later they finally found the perfect home in Santa Monica, a much more relaxed lifestyle, Sam and Mercy signed the paperwork the day before valentines, agreeing to delay the house warming until April because they had to organise for the family to get over. The house was about a mile away from the beach, the view from the roof patio outside the master bedroom was rockery and sea, for as far as the eye could see. Asia's bedroom was on the other side of the house, a smaller bedroom leading off her room that was going to be the nursery, with four more bedrooms two sharing a bathroom between them, an office on the ground floor for Sam and all his books, double living area, with a piano, saxophone and guitar taking pride of place in the corner. The garden had been well maintained, along with the fully modernised kitchen, downstairs utility, cloak, and bathroom, it was definitely a family home
Sam was determined to do something special for valentines, so they opened presents when they woke up, had an expensive breakfast at the posh hotel in town, and he got caters in for their evening meal out on the balcony with Heart balloons, chocolates and strawberries for munchies, while they sat listening to music and watching the sunset
By the end of the month Sam had been to his informal interview with William, securing a higher paid job that was starting in May, and offering the opportunity for him to study for promotion, so now he had a bit of time to make the place a home, while Mercy went about promoting her artist, with Asia hanging onto her tail at every move.
Sam's things came just three weeks after they finished decorating the house, there wasn't a shade of red or black in the entire house, Sam had won that conversation so the house was cream with splashes of blue and purple. By mid March they were ready to move in, Mercy's apartment they'd decided not to keep, so that was on the market, and finally it was release day for Alex's album
April
There had been so many hitches before the release date, it was around 6pm a week before the big day Mercy finally walked into the studio and told him everything was a go, it was being let off at midnight the following Friday
They'd had that final week of a promotional blast about the album, Alex was attending interviews all over the place and now 11pm everyone finally sat in the studio hall, clinking glasses together and congratulating each other as the countdown started. This wasn't just the introduction of Alex to the world, it was Mercy's debut as a producer, manager and record label, there was a lot riding on it "5" Eric shouted alerting everyone to the time
"4,3,2,1" everyone followed cheering as the album dropped
"This is it" Mercy looked at Sam wide eyed
"It's good, have some faith" he squeezed her to him "I have"
The other were still jumping about at the fact they'd reached the release date, Alex was first to stop, turning to look at Asia "You alright?" he asked at her face not looking too happy
"Yeah" she half smiled
"Hey" he leaned on the table behind him and pulled her to stand between his legs "Do you need to talk?"
"It's release day" she looked around, aware her Dad could hear the conversation, he'd known all week something was up with his daughter, they both did, but she kept coming at them with this 'I'm fine' thing and closing them down, maybe now they weren't so busy she'd talk, and if that was going to be with Alex he was alright with that, as long as she talked to someone
"That was at midnight, we can talk now" Alex smiled "Let's find somewhere quieter" he grabbed her hand
Asia had grown close to Alex, maybe because he was the only one around that was anywhere near her age group, Mercy had assured Sam that the 21 year old was responsible, and could be trusted with their daughter and he'd held him to Mercy's assumption. He stood watching his daughter leave the room with this boy feeling like he should say something, but hearing Mercy's words echoing round his head, he held it all in, the door closed behind them and his eyes found Mercy's again, smiling
"Well done" she smiled up at him "He'll take care of her"
"I hope that's a platonic take care of"
"It is" she laughed "Come on, drink Champaign, be merry and think about drunk sex"
"Top me up" he laughed holding his glass out for Earl to fill up
Alex & Asia
"So" Alex spun round as they walked into studio 2 "I finally get you on your own and it's to talk" he laughed pulling a chair out by the mixer for her to sit on, while he sat on the mixer board table "Spill, what's up?"
"Everything" she smiled, looking at the ground before looking back at him "I didn't have any actual best friends back in Lima, but I did know people, you know, I knew the best coffee shops, cheapest boutiques all that kind of stuff, I come here and I'm lost, I don't know anyone"
"You know us" he laughed
"Yeah a group of guys, most older than my Granddad's, that's about to start touring now your lifting off, and you'll be taking my Mom with you"
"So, this is about your Mom?"
"No" she giggled
"It's great that you're thinking of me as being famous and all that, but I'm not there yet" he looked at his phone "I'm like five minutes closer to it though" he laughed
"I thought we connected that first day, we connect, and then you just go all cold on me" she blurted out
"Asia" he smiled stroking her face "There was a connection, I was attracted to you, when we first met"
"So, what's the problem?"
"You're 15 years old, I could go to prison for thinking things about you" he smiled "And that's bad, but not half as bad as things could get for me with your Mom and Dad if I even pretended to look in your direction, if you were like four years older, I really wouldn't hesitate"
"So, you think I'm cute?"
"We're not going there, lady" he lifted himself off the table, shocked when she flew at him "Asia" he grabbed her arms before she flung them around his neck "You can't do this"
"Why?" she looked into his eyes
"Because your pregnant for one" he looked down at her baby bump "Where's the father?" he watched her pull away from him and step away
"His parents sent him away when they found out" she rubbed her bump "So you're not interested because I'm pregnant?"
"I'm not interested because you're 15 years old Asia" he looked at her, the silence deafening "Your parents are loaded, get them to find this guy, if that's what you need, but don't throw yourself around, don't do this with anyone else, at least not until your 18, it really isn't worth your self-respect"
"Don't tell my parents" she looked up at him scared for the consequences of her actions
"If something's troubling you, speak to them, they're really cool parents" he hugged her "I won't tell anyone anything"
"Thank you"
"Come on" he pulled away from her "We're missing the party"
"I'll be in soon, give me a minute please" she stepped away from him and watched him leave the room, she sat down heavy cursing herself for making such a fool of everything, wondering if she really was that desperate to have someone love her, and why weren't her parents enough right now. Maybe she'd gotten too clogged down into the newness of everything and forgotten her focus, Alex was right, she needed Lathan, however much of a rogue and liar he was, he was her the father of her unborn child, he should be there, she tapped her hand on the chair finding a beat
I wonder, why I'm so afraid, of saying something wrong and never said I was a saint
I wonder, when I cry into my hands, I'm conditioned to feel like it makes me less of a woman
And I wonder if some day you'll be by my side, and tell me that the world will end up alright
I wonder, I wonder
'I Wonder' by Shawn Mendes (Adapted)
"Why is life so freaking hard?" she banged the chair, getting up to go be with her family