Firstly, I am so sorry about the hiatus.. I meant to have this updated a loooong time ago but life happens and some bs happened with the chapter... on the bright side I'm here now. I'm not gonna hold you all any longer, with a sappy author's note.. lol
Again, I do not own glee nor do I own the concept of Double Platinum or any of the songs used .. if I did Samcedes would be endgame and so would Kartie ..
-I'm not going fully based of the movie, just key important parts.
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10 Months Later
--
"Where have you been ?", Mercedes asked lowly. She was currently sitting onto last step of her staircase, worried and upset.
"That's none of your concern", Cherish replied irritably. Cherish had been out with her friends she met since moving in with Mercedes. Her newfound best friend Summer Walker has completely influenced the way, Cherish has changed.
"I have been up all night worrying about you. You didn't tell me where you were, my calls were going straight to voicemail. I didn't know whether I should call the police or what", Mercedes said in a stern tone. Although she loved having her daughter living with her, Cherish has been giving Mercedes the worst hell anyone could ever imagine.
"You're not my mother. You are my manager. Whatever I do, is no concern of yours. Look, I can't do this anymore. I cannot stand being in this penthouse with you. Every five seconds you're trying to 'Mother to Daughter' me, and it's getting very annoying. I want to be emancipated. Will has already started looking for a place for me. I just can't", Cherish said, stepping around Mercedes running up to her room.
Over the last 10 months, Mercedes could fathom why Cherish couldn't see she was trying to do the right thing for her. Cherish only thought things were sugar and good, but didn't understand the darkness that goes on. Sighing, Mercedes pulled out her phone walking to her in home practice room.
As she walked into the room, she sat at her piano, looking over the lyrics she had written a few days before. Letting out yet another sigh, she decide to make a FaceTime call.
"Hello ?" , The voice answered.
"Sam ?", She stated in confusion to the voice that came onto the line, yet their was no face.
"No, this is Quinn, his girlfriend", She stated showing her face. Mercedes could visual see that she had no clothes on just a sheet covering her, but was shocked that it was her former best friend answering her ex-husband/child's father answering the phone.
Her mouth went dry. 'What was she doing there?' , 'How long has this been going on ?', 'Did Cherish know ?'. Questions upon questions dwelled in her head.
"Mercedes ?", Quinn questioned in shock. Quinn, couldn't believe this was happening. She didn't think she would ever see her let alone talk to her. Guilt quickly came and left as she stared into the phone, not knowing what to do, let alone say.
"Hey Quinn, whose that on the phone ?", Sam asked walking into the room. He tried to look over her shoulder but she moved the phone out of view. He caught a quick glimpse of Mercedes before the call ended.
'Shit' , he thought. It wasn't more so because Mercedes now knew, it was because Cherish didn't know, and he feared she would tell before he got the chance to.
Back in New York, Mercedes sat flabbergasted. She didn't know what to say. She wasn't jealous, she was just - well she didn't know what she was, due to the fact that she technically couldn't have any feelings about it. Well she had one, disappointment. Again, she couldn't feel it because A. She left him. B. Her and Quinn, were no longer friends. And C. They didn't owe her any explanations. Her real question was, 'Did Cherish know ?'
Still in shock, she just decided to go to her bedroom and deal with Cherish tomorrow. She initially called Sam to back her up, not like he should need to consider what she did all those years ago. She wouldn't be surprised if he agreed that she should have the right to be emancipated. Hell, he didn't even want Cherish to leave with her in the first place.
"I can't wait to get out of this hell hole. If I have my own place we can truly be together, without her breathing down my neck, Will", She heard Cherish say as she passed by her room to get to hers.
"I know baby, look just be patient. I will figure this out for you", He replied.
Mercedes couldn't take hearing anymore, she went to her room, shocked once again. She figured Cherish had something going on with Will, started back 5 months ago...
-9 Months Prior-
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"How are you settling in ? I know this has been a crazy month, I just want to make sure you're comfortable in every way possible", Mercedes asked as she was sipping her coffee.
Cherish took a seat across from Mercedes sighing. New York is very much different from her home in Texas. Everything is so fast paced and school was going to start soon, well with her being homeschooled it wasn't too much of a problem, she just didn't know how she was going to do school and her career. She wanted to do well in both, but loosely in the back of her mind, she was starting to wonder if she should even continue school with her going to be a superstar.
She knew she had made a promise to both her dad and Mercedes that she would still continue school and not let this career interfere with that but if she was going to be famous, there is no point for school.
"It's fine, very different, but I'm okay with it"
"Well that's good, we have about two hours before we start your vocal lessons and then from there you have your photo shoot at 3 at the label. You can get Maria to make you breakfast or you can order something. Whatever you feel like doing"
Mercedes took another sip of her coffee, before getting up and going into her in home music room, which consisted of a Piano, Microphone and stand and music sheets. She didn't want anything too extravagant due to her loving the actual studio vibes, but when she's home she gets her personal time to try new things and write songs.
Mercedes took out her song book and grabbed her pencil and began to jot down some lyrics ...
I'm insecure
But I can't help it
My mind says "move on"
My heart lags behind
But I don't love you anymore
I'm so insecure
Never knew that love did this
Mercedes bit her lip as she was thinking. She sighed put down her pencil and ran her finger lightly across her Piano keys, without making a sound. She figured when she wanted to start and began to play different chords before she found the right key she wanted to be in.
As she began to play she began to hum the lyrics she just written. She smiled lightly , before stopping , taking a sip of her coffee and picked up her pencil to write some more...
I can't remember the last time
I felt this way about somebody
You've done something to my mind
That I can't control it
But I don't love you anymore
Yes I do I think
Loving you is wrong
Is it?
Mercedes continued to brainstorm and play her piano until it was almost time for Cherish's vocal lessons. She got up, closing her song book, grabbing her mug and exiting the room, to go to her bedroom to get ready. As she began to get dressed she heard her phone beep, she took a look at the text it was from Santana stating she was on her way over along with The Vocal Coach Charles.
Mercedes has always like having male vocal coaches. It wasn't because she didn't like having woman vocal coaches, she just found it easier singing in male ranges and working herself up to find her perfect range. When singing with women vocal coaches, you try to sound like them, and she wanted Cherish to find her own range without trying to sound like other female singers.
"Cherish, Charles and Tana will be here in a few minutes. Meet us in the music room" Mercedes said as she walked into Cherish's room.
"Mkay"
Mercedes walked out, going downstairs to make some tea to soothe their vocal chords. As she was finishing up the Peppermint Tea, she heard the door unlock and open.
"Knock knock and Entering", Santana stated as she walked into the penthouse.
"Hey Tana. Hey Charles", Mercedes responded as she stirred the tea. She looked to the stairs to see if. Heroism was coming down. Slightly rolling her eyes she called for her.
"Cherish, Let's go ! They are here".
"Charles , you can go ahead and get set up in the Music Room"
He nodded and went in the direction of the room .
"So how's it going ?"
Santana took a seat at the bar, wanting to catch up with her best friend real quick. Since being back from Texas, Santana had other engagementsand works with artists, and with Mercedes has been getting things together for Cherish, these last couple months, they haven't really spoke.
"Well it's going. We talk a little more than when she found out in Texas. She is still withdrawn, but I understand"
"Mmm, I see. Well it's gonna take time, but everything's gonna be fine"
Santana took the tray of Tea, seeing Cherish come down the stairs and they all walked into the music room to began.
"Alright, let's start with some basic scales", Charles said as she began to play the C Major scale on the Piano. As they began to sing the scale, Mercedes immediately stopped them.
"Cherish, are you chewing gum ?"
"Chewing gu- what ? No, I don't do that when I'm singing", Cherish said looking irritated. Mercedes looked at her and Santana looked at Mercedes.
"I'm sorry, it just looked like you were"
"Yeah, okay"
Everyone was silent for a few seconds before Cherish looked at Mercedes with an irritated look.
"Okay, can we continue or are we going to continue to sit here in silence" Cherish asked very much attitude in her voice.
"Oh, yes. Of course" Mercedes stated.
A few hours later, at The Label*
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"Well, Tana, I was thinking.. I wanna sing at the AMA party this year. Whatcha think ?", Mercedes asked her while walking down the hall.
"I think you've been turning them down for years, why the sudden change now ?"
"I guess, I'm in the mood to actually perform there"
—-
"Okay, I want her in this outfit and fix her make up", Will said pointing in different directions.
Mercedes and Santana had just come from a meeting while Cherish was doing her photoshoot. When Mercedes was shocked to see what Cherish was wearing.
"Umm... What is this ?"
"This is some serious Image building"
"I was thinking she was doing more of an innocent look, Girl next door, this is way too... Change it. I did not agree to this"
"Mercedes, I like it !"
"Ahhh, look it's Mercedes Jones. Look, why don't you step back and let me continue my magic. I mean, hell, you got me kicked off from working with you on your next album, let me do what I do best, and that's make stars, like I did with you. This is my Shoot, My Album "
"Excuse me ?! Give me a minute.. I can get you kicked off of this one too"
"Mercedes", Cherish said in disbelief.
William Shuester. Ugh, that name made her skin crawl.
"You did not make me a star. I did that myself. All you did was create a degrading image of me and I refuse for you to do the same to her"
Cherish saw the commotion and walked over to Mercedes as Will walked away from Mercedes.
"Look, you are embarrassing me. Chill out. It's fine. It's not provocative. You need to calm down. I want to do this without you interfering. He is helping me, I don't know what your problem is. I don't know why you're trying to ruin this for me... I think you should leave so I can concentrate and make this amazing"
Mercedes looked at her shocked at the way She spoke to her. She was just trying to help, she knew the path she would go down working with Will, but she knew Cherish wouldn't listen to her.
2 1/2 month later ( Seven months Since Cherish moved in)
--
"Hello"
"Hey , Cherish. I was just checking up on you. You okay", Mercedes asked as she was getting ready for bed early.
"I'm fine, Mercedes"
"Well, what time will you be home ?"
"Like 10 or 11, look I gotta go"
Mercedes sat looking at her phone. Cherish hung up before she could say anything and that irritated her to the max.
Cherish was currently on a date with Will, unbeknownst to Mercedes. She told Mercedes that she was going out with some friends she met , so owing Mercedes would freak if she really knew what was going on.
"Are you having a good time ?"
"The best"
He wrapped his arm around her her pulling her close as they continued to walk.
"You know, you're really special. I do have a question though", He asked.
"What's up ?"
"I was wondering , what's up with you and Mercedes ? Like she's really overprotective and you know, like am I missing something ?", He questioned.
Cherish paused. She didn't know if she should tell him or not. She shrugged it off and just went with her gut.
"Well, I met her in Texas at her concert and she came to one of my performances.. she said she wanted to help with my career and convinced my dad to let me go with her", She said partially telling the truth.
"Ahhh, I see. Well I'm glad you were able to come here", He said kissing her forehead as they continued.
Present Day (Next Morning) *
Mercedes woke up to a pounding headache. Went went to her bathroom cabinet and popped back two Asprins. She just couldn't understand what was happening. Her baby was with a conniving snake , not to mention he was 10 years her senior. This will not do. But at times like this she wished that she could talk to someone , anyone and she knew just the person.
Mercedes quickly did her morning routine and got dressed in a simple Tshirt and Sweatpants, and made sure to have her sunglasses on. She fixed her hair in a messy bun and grabbed her sneakers, purse and phone. She walked to Cherish's room to see her still sleeping. She went to her desk and pulled out a piece of paper in pen and wrote...
Cherish,
I am going out for the day. I should be back sometime tonight. If you have any questions call or text me. If you need to go somewhere, Liam is on standby to drive you wherever. Make sure all your school work is done. If you need studio time, call Santana.
- M
She stared at the 'M' she just signed. She wanted write 'I love you. -Mom' but the way things are , she just couldn't. Sighing. She put the note on top of her phone and proceeded to leave out. She decided she wanted to drive and clear her head a little versus someone driving her around. As she approached the red light , she quickly pulled out a letter from her purse and typed in the address she was heading to in her gps.
The closer she got, the closer her heart pounded. Why was she nervous ? Probably because she has fucked everything up, and is just now realizing , in her early 30s, she has to fix it all before it's too late.
After driving over an hour she finally reached the house in Philly. Her heart pounded even more as the nervousness was trying to settle. She slowly, but surely turned the car off and exited. She made sure to lock her doors, before walking up the small driveway and steps. She took a few deep breaths before knocking on the door. She stepped back just a lit,e and waited patiently for the door to open.
Not even a full 20 seconds later she heard the door click and open. She swiftly took off her sunglasses and lifted her head up with a small smile.
"Mercedes ?"
"Hey Mama"
After all these years, she had finally went and faced her mother.
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Sorry this update took forever and a day. I had a majority of this chapter written months ago and then ended up redoing it. But I'm still here. Lol. Please comment and favorite , you know , the whole Shabang !
Thank you all so much for the support ! I love you guys !! Until next time !
Song used : Green Eyes x Erykah Badu