Thank you for your continued support. I appreciate it.

Standard disclaimer.

Warning: Character death.

It was a week after the break-in and I wasn't really thinking about that at the moment, because, I was on my way to a cookout at Ryder's place, with Sam.

It felt a little weird going over to my boss' place together, because, I felt like this was the first time Sam and I were really stepping out, like a legitimate couple.

Then again, I guessed that's what we actually were.

We talked like we were.

We had sex like we were.

He had the extra key to my apartment. Mainly because, if I was working when the guy wired my place, he'd be able to let him in, but whatever.

We were like a couple, and that made me feel kind of stupid, for being so weird about it in the first place.

But my head had been all over the place this past week.

I wasn't used to being around a guy, as much as I was with Sam, and I thought I'd be annoyed with the lack of space, but I wasn't.

I actually missed him when he wasn't around, which was odd, because, when he wasn't working, he was with me. And I really liked it when he came home.

He was always very hands-on when he got off work.

And if I counted the amount of time that passed, from when he hit the bed, to when he was inside me, it was probably around a couple of minutes...if that.

Which was also something I had a hard time wrapping my head around.

With other guys, I needed foreplay, lots of foreplay. With Sam, just the feel of his skin moving against mine, aroused me enough, for some between-the-sheets shenanigans.

I also discovered, that he hadn't been joking when he'd said, he only slept a few hours here and there, because, as I recalled, there'd been a few times when he'd gotten up before me, even after falling asleep after me.

On Thursday, I'd woken up, to find his side of the bed empty. I found him sitting out on the balcony, his feet kicked up on the railing and his expression far away.

He seemed focused on something, he hadn't really been willing to share with me, and the shadows in his eyes, told me it had to do with that shooting.

It still haunted him, and I hated that I had no idea how to help him with that. Or if he wanted my help.

That morning, when I tried to talk to him, it had been a no-go, so I resorted to one of the ways, that I knew would put that carefree smile back on his handsome face.

I'd gotten on my knees between him and that balcony railing...and we definitely broke some public decency laws.

If my dumb nervousness was showing on the way to Ryder's...which it had to be, because, I was as twitchy as a tweaker...Sam didn't let on that he noticed.

Instead, he kept the conversation light, steering away from talk about Kurt, Karofsky, and the whole angry, creepy, stalker dude, who may or may not be Karofsky.

All we knew, was that it wasn't Sean Cook. Stevie had interviewed him after the break-in, and apparently, just the sight of a detective showing up at his place, had caused the guy to break out in hives.

According to Stevie, Sean might be persistent and rude, but he wasn't getting a stalker vibe from him and he doubted that I'd hear from him again.

Okay. I wasn't going to think about that...any of that. Tonight was going to be normal and fun and all things good.

When we pulled into the parking lot, Sam killed the engine and I felt my stomach drop and land on my feet, as my gaze locked with his green one.

"Did I tell you that you look beautiful today?" he asked.

My lips parted as I nodded. He had. That morning.

"Good. I'm going to tell you again. You look beautiful."

Wordless, all I could do was stare at him. He was so handsome, but it was the openness in his steady gaze, the acceptance of me and all my crazy, that really undid me.

'You've fallen,' an insidious voice whispered and I wanted to smack that dumb bitch upside her head, because, another chirpier voice was pointing out, that I probably fell when I was fifteen.

It was just a long, slow-motion kind of fall at this point.

"You got the potato salad?" Sam asked.

"Huh?" I murmured, distracted by the warring voices in my head.

He gestured at my feet.

"The potato salad that we bought at the store...the one you insisted on putting in another plastic container, so it looked like you actually made it, when I'm sure there's no one here, that's going to believe you actually made that."

"Oh!" I bent over, scooping up the tub. "I totally made this."

"Liar."

"Shut up," I hissed, yanking on the handle, but the door wouldn't budge. I rolled my eyes. "Can you unlock my door?"

He chuckled and hit the button. I all but fell out of the damn thing, and then was stunned, that within a heartbeat, he was by my side, taking the potato salad out of my grasp and grabbing my hand with his.

We were holding hands.

Like boyfriend and girlfriend.

We were totally holding hands as we crossed the parking lot, and I was torn between punching myself in the lady bits and skipping like a schoolgirl.

I needed therapy...seriously.

The door to Ryder's townhouse was unlocked, and as soon as we stepped inside the house, we almost plowed into a beautiful redhead coming down the stairs.

"Hey!" I squealed. "Avery!" Then I frowned. "Are you okay?"

Avery looked a little green, as she gave me a wobbly smile.

"Hey," she replied, in a much more subdued voice. "Sorry. I'm getting over a stomach bug and my stomach is still a little woozy, but I'm not contagious or anything."

She glanced at where my hand was mating with Sam's, and her grin strengthened.

"Hi, Sam."

He nodded and asked,

"Are you sure you're okay? Do we need to get Chris?"

Avery's laugh was airy.

"Yes, I'm sure. And besides, I doubt you'll pull him away from the grill. I'm pretty sure he kicked Ryder off grill duty. He does that everywhere we go. It's weird."

"Probably a good thing. Chris can cook, right?" I asked, as we followed her to the kitchen and out the back door.

Her eyes got this dreamy look that was goofy and cute, and I wondered if I looked like that, when people mentioned Sam. Probably not as adorable, and more whacked.

"Yeah, he can cook."

Sam squeezed my hand.

"I bet his omelets aren't as good as mine," he said.

I snorted.

His eyes narrowed on me as his lips twitched.

"You wait and see, if I make you another omelet anytime soon."

Avery's avid gaze bounced back and forth between us.

"So you guys...um..."

"Joined the league of the incredibly good-looking couples secret organization of annoying hotness?" San appeared, popping out of a wall, for all I knew.

She was dressed down today...sort of...she was wearing hot-pink jeans and an off-the-shoulder black shirt.

"Yes. The answer would be yes," she finished.

Sam raised his brows.

"What? I dare you to deny such a label," she challenged. "Do it. Make my day."

I giggled.

"I wasn't going to deny it," Sam replied. "But thanks for stealing our thunder."

Unabashed, San rocked back, on what appeared to be six-inch heels. Then she spun around, clapping.

"Sam and Mercedes, whose names link together in an incredibly cute way, are totally doing it!"

"Oh my God," I whispered, eyes wide.

"Well, that's one way of making an announcement," Sam said and sighed.

A whole bunch of heads turned in our direction. And over by the grill, Ryder raised his hand and gave us a thumbs-up? Really?

"I'm so proud of our babies," Noah commented from where he sat, near the grill.

Sprawled in a lawn chair, he looked like he overgrew a few feet ago, a hoodie up over his head and rocking dark sunglasses.

"They're all grown up now. What ever shall we do?" he ended.

Marley walked to us, her long brown hair swishing in a ponytail. She grinned, as she took the potato salad from us.

"I have so many questions," she said to me meaningfully. "But since San pretty much, just put that all out there, I'll wait."

"Thanks," I muttered dryly.

She laughed, as she plopped the container on a card table, someone must've dug up from a basement or a frat house, from the looks of it.

"You make this?" Her brows rose.

"Yes," I answered, not even blinking an eye.

Sam swallowed a laugh, that earned him a strange look from her, and I pulled my hand free, shooting him a death glare over my shoulder. And his grin spread.

"You totally didn't make this," Marley said, brows arched.

I sighed.

"No."

She laughed again.

"I was going to say, I didn't know you peeled potatoes."

"Peeling potatoes is hard," I grumbled.

Avery joined Chris, who immediately draped an arm over her shoulders.

"You feeling okay, shortcake?" he asked, concern evident in the way he stared at her. When she nodded, he dipped his head and kissed the tip of her nose and then looked up. "The hamburgers are almost done. Got some hot dogs on the grill, too. I wanted to grill some chicken, but Hunter didn't want to wait so long."

Hunter, the really good looking one of the group, folded his arms.

"Especially when you want to baste it, like you're fucking Betty Crocker or some shit."

"Don't hate on Betty Crocker," Chris warned him.

Chris kind of made me nervous. Not in a bad way, but mainly because, he was a pro soccer player...a freaking pro soccer player.

I always felt out of my element when I was around him.

"They smell great," Sam said. He glanced at Ryder. "Stevie's going to try to make it, but no promises."

"Understandable," he returned. He waved his hand at the numerous lawn chairs. "Help yourself."

Marley gestured at the group.

"Brit and Ollie couldn't make it. He's got a big exam on Monday and Brit's staying with him in Morgantown, but I think you guys know everyone here except..."

"Me."

A girl with beautiful mocha-colored skin and bright green eyes stood from one of the chairs. She was tall and lanky, and vaguely reminded me of someone famous.

She was wearing a gray loose-knit beanie, I kind of wanted to steal.

"I'm Jenny. I go to college at Shepherd. I'm a Gemini. I'm allergic to Game of Thrones, because, I can't keep track of everyone who dies on the show. If you talk shit about Doctor Who, we cannot be friends, and I still want a goddamn pony and no one will let me buy one."

Suzy, who was sitting in one of the plastic chairs, ran her hand through her mane of dark hair. She looked stunning, as usual, a modern-day Snow White.

"You're the only grown person who wants a pony."

"I kind of want a llama," I said.

Sam looked down at me, lips pursed thoughtfully, as if he was rethinking the whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing.

"Why would you want a llama?" Marley asked. She sounded genuinely curious.

I shrugged.

"Who wouldn't want a llama?"

"Um..." Avery wrinkled her nose. "Don't they spit?"

Jenny shushed her and then grinned at me.

"I think we're going to be great friends. We could take our pony and llama on play-dates. Oh! Jeff could totally fashion leashes for them. I want one with Swarovski crystals."

A man I hadn't met before, groaned from where he stood.

"That is not going to happen."

Jenny shushed him.

"Mr. Dream Crusher, also known as Mark, is my boyfriend. He doesn't understand the need for an obscenely large four-legged friend."

I grinned, at what had to be the greatest introduction of all time.

Mark was very handsome, and nicely tanned. He approached, offering a hand to Sam and then me.

"I'm out of college and I don't know any of these people."

"That's probably a good thing," Jenny said. "Half of them are insane."

"Hey!" shouted Suzy from her seat. "We're not insane. We are eccentric."

"Speaking of insane Suzy..." San said, returning to our huddle, with a bottle of Corona in her hand. "...have you thought anymore about trying out that pole?"

Suzy choked on the beer she was drinking and turned sideways quickly, waving a hand in front of her face.

Before she could say anything, Hunter's head swiveled around so fast, I thought it might spin right off.

"What?" he demanded.

Suzy grinned and bit down on her lip.

"Nothing, honey."

"No. Seriously," Chris piped up. "That's not a 'nothing.' I don't ever want to hear my sister's name and the word pole in the same sentence."

He glanced at San, wielding a slotted spatula, causing Jenny to sidestep a spittle of grease.

"No offense," he finished.

She shrugged a shoulder.

"None taken. Only the few and the proud can handle it."

I scrunched my nose.

"Isn't that the Marines' motto?"

"Yes," sighed Sam.

Hunter eyed his girlfriend and then shook his head. Giggling, Suzy rose from her seat and went to his side.

Stretching up, she clasped his head and whispered something in his ear. Whatever it was, turned the frown upside down. And she returned to the seat, cheeks flushed.

Right at that moment, Sam dipped his head, kissed my cheek and then wandered off, to where all the boys were converged around the grill.

"Sit." Suzy patted the chair next to her. "Sit down, girl who's dating a hot cop."

My heart did a happy little twirl at that, as I sat next to her.

Marley and Avery joined in, while San remained standing, nursing her beer.

"Cops are hot," she said, eyes squinting. "Well, any guy in a uniform is hot. Wait. Not any uniform, but you get what I'm saying."

I had to agree with her.

"Have you heard anything more about the stalker?" Avery asked in a quiet voice.

Marley leaned forward, her expression serious.

"Your place was broken into, right?"

I nodded.

"Yeah, last weekend, but nothing else has happened since then. I know Sam's friend is coming out on Monday or Tuesday, after he gets off, to go ahead and wire the place, so hopefully that helps."

"That's so frightening," Avery said, shaking her head. "Yeah, I know that makes me Captain Obvious, but God, that's just crazy. I'm glad you're staying with Sam."

Suzy shuddered.

"So am I. If I were you, even with a security system, I wouldn't want to be alone, until they found the freak."

"Have you thought about just staying with him, until they find out who's doing this?" Marley asked, glancing to where the guys were laughing, over something Noah had said. "I doubt he'd be against that."

Crossing my legs, I couldn't even try to hide the grin that pulled at my lips.

"I don't think he would either, but I don't want to impose on him any more than I am."

Suzy cocked a dark brow.

"I so doubt you are doing any imposing."

"True, but..." I shook my head, unsure of how to put it in words, I didn't want overheard. But I didn't have to worry long, because, San did it for me.

Voice low, she said,

"The girl is stupid. No offense Chica," she said to me, and I glared at her. "She thinks she's not in love. Or she doesn't want to be in love, and probably has no idea, that Fish Lips has already willingly taken that leap. She's trying to protect her whittle heart."

Avery tucked a strand of strawberry-colored hair back behind her ear.

"I'm pretty sure most of us have been there."

"Yep," commented Marley, as she raised her glass of tea. "Been there, done that, and got the T-shirt."

I arched my brows at them.

"Am I the only one who went after a guy?" Suzy asked, her expression puzzled. "Because, I totally knew I wanted to make sweet, sweet loving to Hunter."

"That's because you have lady balls," announced San. "The rest of them just have ovaries."

"Do I want to even know, what you all are talking about?" Noah asked, appearing behind Avery. He gripped the back of her chair and leaned over her.

Marley laughed.

"Probably not. So how much longer till we eat?"

He glanced over at the grill.

"Another five minutes, I guess? What the fuck do I know, though."

Suzy stretched her legs out in front of her, sighing as she smiled.

"I'm glad we all were able to get away and hang out together."

"Yeah, this is probably going to be the last time for a while," Avery said, smacking at Noah, as he picked up a strand of her hair and tossed it in her face.

"Why?" I asked.

"After this semester, I'm moving back here," Marley said, a sad smile on her face as she looked at me. "You will be stuck with me, but I'm going to miss seeing Avery and Suzy."

"With Chris' schedule, he's got a lot of traveling coming up. I try to go with him when I can, but it's not always possible," Avery said. "But we got a wedding to plan, so don't forget that." She grinned at Suzy. "I'm totally leaving that all up to you and Britt, by the way."

"Fine with me. You'll be wearing red instead of white."

Avery rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, because, that will go great with my hair. Thanks."

Noah patted her head sympathetically, making her side-eye him.

"Weekends are going to be hard for Hunter and me to get away. With his new job at the agriculture center, he's working all week and our weekends are pretty packed right now, since Liam will be staying with us during the weekends for now, Suzy continued.

"Isn't Liam his brother?" I asked, hoping something wasn't going on with his parents, that meant they couldn't care for him.

"Uh..." Noah straightened. "I don't think she knows, Suze."

"Crap. You're right." She scooted forward on the plastic chair. "Well, it's kind of a complicated, long story, but the short version is that, Liam's not his brother. He's his son."

My mouth dropped open, and I couldn't help it.

I glanced over at Hunter, who was holding a plate, Chris was heaping burgers onto.

I knew that Liam wasn't a small child and Hunter wasn't much older than me, so...

"He was dating a girl in high school and she got pregnant," Suzy explained, when I turned back around. "Instead of putting Liam up for adoption, Hunter's parents legally adopted him and they raised him as their son. Hunter finally told Liam the truth, a couple of weekends ago."

"Wow," I said. "How'd that go?"

She smiled sadly.

"Liam understands, but in a way, he doesn't. He's old enough to get what Hunter is telling him, but he's looked at him as an older brother, since he was born. It's going to take a while to get used to the fact, that he's his father. The great thing though, is that Hunter's parents have been really supportive, and since he just closed on a house, it's a good place for Liam once he's ready." She shrugged. "And hey, it's like a practice run for me."

Avery shot her a look.

"Oh dear God, don't let Chris hear you say that."

"He needs to get over the fact, I have sex. Lots of sex," Suzy replied dryly. "Look at Hunter. Who wouldn't?"

"That boy would never leave my bed," San said.

"Mine either," murmured Jenny. "Hell, I'd take all these boys."

Part of me couldn't believe that Hunter had a son, but the guy had awesome genes, so I guessed, it was great that they were being passed down.

"What about the mom?" San asked.

Suzy cringed.

"She passed away years ago in a car accident."

"Oh. Wow. That sucks." San took a long gulp of her beer. "I think it's time for food." At that, she wandered over to the grill.

Sam was the man.

He pulled over a chair next to mine, asked what I wanted and returned with a plate full of food and a fresh beer.

I could get used to that kind of service. And as corny as it felt, I could also get used to us being a couple.

San left shortly after she finished eating, stating she had a hot date to get ready for, and I wished her luck.

There were a lot of laughs and insults flying, once the food was done and the chairs were moved around a fire pit, that kept the cold chill of the September air at bay.

When I came back from using the bathroom and helping put the cold stuff away in the fridge, Sam snagged me around the waist and pulled me into his lap.

I let out a soft squeal.

"We're going to break the chair!"

He straightened my glasses and then looped his arms around me.

"We'll be fine." Light from the fire flickered across his handsome face, making it glow. "Want to know a secret?"

"Sure," I whispered back.

One side of his lips kicked up and he rested his forehead against mine.

"I'm glad we're here. I'm enjoying this."

My heart expanded in my chest and I admitted,

"Me, too."

"Good." He reached up with one hand, smoothing my hair back from my face. "Because, I can see us doing this again and again. What do you think?"

I closed my eyes, secretly thrilled to hear what he was saying. I wasn't even sure how to respond, then the moment was briefly taken from me.

"I think it's kind of weird, seeing you two be nice to each other," Ryder said, as he walked passed us, joining Marley on a thick blanket.

Sam lifted his head from mine.

"I think it's kind of weird, that you're paying such close attention to us."

I laughed, as I rested my cheek on his shoulder, briefly closing my eyes. There was no denying I was happy where I was at the moment, and yeah, I could really see us doing this.

I could see us together, seriously together. And maybe, I could even get over myself...over the fear of getting hurt again.

For Sam...for this...

My breath caught, as I placed my hand above Sam's heart and he immediately folded his over mine. I opened my eyes and stared at our joined hands.

San was so right.

And it was so stupid, because, I wasn't even sure why I was fighting this anymore. What I felt for Sam when I was fifteen, was nothing like what I felt for him now.

Back then, I thought I knew what it was like, being in love with someone. And maybe I did, but now, I truly knew how it felt.

Because, this was like flying and drowning all at once, like wrapping yourself in your favorite sweater and running naked through a sprinkler on a hot day.

It was a thousand conflicting emotions, all rolled into one.

I love Sam.

A knot formed in the back of my throat, as I lifted my head.

I really did love him and I was in love with him. There was no more playing around with how I felt, no more lying.

Sam looked at me, his brows knitting.

"You okay?"

I opened my mouth to tell him yes...no...to tell him the truth, and I didn't care that people surrounded us, because, I was going to scream it...scream it right in his face.

But my butt vibrated.

Drawing back, I pulled my cell out of my jean pocket and my stomach dropped, the moment I saw the caller ID.

"It's Kurt's parents," I mumbled.

Sam stiffened.

Going cold, I sat up straight, as I answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Mercedes?" Kurt's mother always called me that. Never in my whole life, had she ever used a nickname. And never in my whole life, had I heard her sound as hoarse, and as shaken as she did now.

My hands started shaking, as knots formed in my belly, I slipped out of Sam's embrace and stood.

I stepped over Ryder's legs, giving myself space, as I walked away from the fire.

"Yes. This is Mercedes. What's going on?"

I don't even know why I asked the question. I knew what she was going to say. Deep down, I already knew, and everything inside me started to unravel like a loose thread, that had been tugged.

"I'm sorry," she said into the phone.

"No," I whispered, turning around. I saw Sam standing a few feet behind me. Concern poured into his expression and so did realization. He stepped towards me, and I stumbled back.

Kurt's mother let out a broken sound...a sound I didn't even know she was capable of making, until that moment.

"It's over. He...Kurt passed away this evening."

I never knew pain could hurt so bad, it made you numb.

I never knew that pain could cut so deep, it took every bit of emotion out of you...just sucked it right out.

That was how I felt. Empty...bottomless.

I didn't cry that night.

Not when Sam took me back to his place.

Not when he helped me undress, or when he got me into bed.

Not even when he wrapped his arms around me and held me until I fell asleep.

Stay safe!