This Is The Right Time
The Palace
Day 2
"There's more refreshments through here" Roz opened the door to a sizable dining room for them all to walk into "Mrs Jones and Princess will be here shortly, they have requested to show you to your quarters personally" she told them before watching them wondering around the magnificent hall
They walked around looking at pictures of artists, family portraits, landscapes and antiques, they were all stood looking out the open doors opposite the front door they'd entered, at the land extending for as far as they could see, taking in the peace of the land covered in waves of colourful flowers, stand alone buildings and people quietly walking about their business, reminding them of home, when suddenly the peace was interrupted by a voice "Please excuse my tardiness, Mercedes and I went shopping, time ran away, sorry about that" Clara told her guests before turning to Roz "Have you kept our guests entertained?"
"Yes Mam", she replied quickly, smiling at the guests before walking away
"Welcome to our home, please make yourselves at home, anything you need, just let Roz know, and she'll sort it", she smiled at everyone "Oh" she held her finger up at the internal reminder "Dinners at 7pm, hope that's alright for everyone?" she looked at Mary
"That'll be fine" Mary smiled
"Formalities", Clara walked towards her saying "I know you're Mary and Dwight" she hugged them saying their names
"And this is Stacey" Mary waved for her daughter to come forward "And Sam our twins, and this is Kitty, Stacey's girlfriend"
"Nice to meet you" she shook hands with the girls "Sam" she smiled keeping hold of his arm for a second longer than she needed to
"And this is my youngest sister Kate, her husband Steve and their daughter Bree with her boyfriend Mason"
"So Sam's in for a bit of a lonely time" Clara walked back over to him to grab his arm again "I guess you can keep Mercedes company" a cheeky smile on her face
"I guess" Sam smiled, knowing what she was thinking, was actually a fact
"She'll be here in a while to show you guys your rooms, she was determined to have the place transformed for you guys, and for whatever reason her Father's allowed it" she laughed "We were lucky to get the renovations done in time" she told them walking towards the patio "Apparently King says you guys sing" she was talking to everyone but she kept looking back at Sam, still clinging to his arm
"We do" Sam admitted smiling at her, uncomfortable with this arm holding thing she had going on
"If I were you I'd take it as a complement, I mean that he actually noticed, which in his world means he thinks you guys are alright" she smiled "But what really matters" she laughed "Is what I think" her attention drawn by Mercy coming towards her "At last" she held her arm out introducing her daughter "Mercedes"
"Mom" she smiled, turning quickly to her friends "Hi guys" she, grinned the excitement bringing tears, as she moved from one to the other hugging, an overwhelming emotional feeling of relief at finally having them there came over her for a while. All the girls were crying at the emotion of it all, it took strength for the boys not to shed a tear too. Eventually they calmed down and she was able to spend some time getting introduced to Bree's parents before stepping away from everyone "It's great to have you all here, sorry for getting emotional" she stood next to Sam wiping her tears "I'll show you guys to your rooms" she stepped off before turning back to ask of Roz "Have the cases been unpacked?"
"Yes Princess, all of them"
"Thanks Roz" she smiled "There's no one else in the country unpacks as quick as Roz and her team" she smiled "I'm sure we'll see each other at dinner" she told the parents before starting the walk down the corridor with all her friends, a real first for Mercy Jones
"God no wonder you're fit, if this is a walk you do every damn night" Stacey commented as they walked down yet another picture lined corridor
"They call this the east wing, I used to have like a race track running down here, my Dad and I used to race a lot" Mercy laughed "So it doesn't seem that long to me"
"That's so cool" Mason's eyes wide with imagination
"I'm all grown now, but this is still my playground, when they want me out the way, or when I want my own space, which is most of the time" she rolled her eyes as she opened the doors. They walked into a living room fully equip with TV, music, couches, piano, bar and kitchenette
"Wow" Stacey smiled walking around the white and red room, plump furry cushions littered across the white couches dotted around the room, a large curved one seating about twelve the centre piece of the room, a smaller four seater near the piano and two facing each other that looked like it could seat around ten in total, accompanied by bean bags and footstools covered with fur blankets, while the floors covered in the softest rugs at the foot of every seat for warmth under foot.
"There are 7 bedrooms through there" she pointed to a door opposite from where they were standing "They used to be other things but I had Dad change them into on-suite's when I knew you guys were coming"
"7 rooms, what for?" Kitty asked
"Toy's, games, clothes, stuff like that" Mercy told her
"A whole room for toys?" Mason asked laughing
"That can happen" Bree told him
"Believe me, I had to say bye to a lot of stuff"
"Sorry" Sam whispered in her ear
"It's fine, look what I got instead" she laughed looking around the room at the new friends she'd made "Come on, let me show you guys around" she stepped off introducing them to the well stocked fridge and food cupboards, at the far end of the kitchen a door leading to a patio with chairs around a twelve seat oval table. A gaming corner, in the spacious lounge area, with gaming chairs around the large wall mounted TV, finally venturing through the only other wooden door in the lounge, leading them to the bedrooms "This is our pool" she opened a door to the left of them, revealing the large swimming pool pointing across it to the wooden huts "Sauna, steam room and showers are over there, and of course we have the view on this side" she pointed to the right of the pool, to a beautiful tropically coloured sea of roses
"This place is amazing" Bree smiled walking further out to take in the BBQ, bar, and small stage
"No adults allowed" Mercy told them "I thought you might enjoy some serious chill out time"
"Chilled out" Sam smiled
"Okay on with the tour" Mercy turned and left the room with everyone following "This room is the studio, I enjoyed myself so much at Sam's place, plus you guys seem to spend a lot of time there, so I asked for one, it's another sanctuary really" she laughed opening the door to show off the impressive mini studio "I'm sure we'll get to play over the holidays" she closed the door and walked on
"This one's a gym, I remember the guys said they liked to work out" she looked at Sam smiling
"So do I actually" Kitty told her impressed with the room
"There's room" Mercy smiled at her "Over here" she walked across the hall as she spoke "Is the library, reading is one of my things" she walked them into the rather impressive library considering it was her home "And through here" she opened another door at the end of the book shelve lined walkway "Is the cinema, it shows whatever we want, we can stream anything" she turned to look at them "I hope something grabs you, but there's still the outdoors for those that fancy it"
"That's more than enough" Stacey smiled "Absolutely more than enough"
"And then of course your bedrooms"
"Can we share, is that alright?" Bree asked
"That's fine, there are 7 rooms, I didn't want to assume" Mercy smiled awkwardly
"You'd have assumed right" Bree told her, Stacey and Kitty shared a look they thought nobody saw
"Would you mind if I slept in yours?" Sam whispered in her ear, looking at his nametag hung on one of the doors
"I insist" she whispered back giggling "Please make yourselves at home, nametags are hanging on the doors" she looked into Sam's eyes smiling "You" she teased "Can come with me"
Sam & Mercy
She grabbed his t-shirt at the stomach and dragged him off with her towards her room "So" she opened her bedroom door
"Very Purple" Sam commented
"Come in" she pulled him in and locked the door behind them "Do I get a proper hello?" she walked towards him smiling
He smiled at her, wondering how she was even suggesting he didn't want more, they'd been talking about it for five months now "Come here" he pulled her to him "I Remember this" she snuggled into her "Do you?" he smiled down at her once he'd got her as close to him as he could get her
"Oh I remember this alright" she giggled giving her lips freely, her arms finding their way to his neck
"Poor memory" his voice raspy as he let her lips go for a second "I need to make sure, it's just as I'd remembered" he pulled her back in and kissed her harder, his hands wondering, there had been too many dreams about this moment, they'd waited too long and now it was here he could feel himself losing control
"That's very familiar" she looked down at his bulging trouser "But we won't be able to remember anymore just now" she pulled away from him "I don't want us to rush this, my parents have visitors coming" she told him "I think Dad's invited a couple of the students from Uni"
"Which students?" he pulled her closer to him asking "That guy that been after you for a while?" he watched her step away from him before she spoke
"I don't know Sam, I don't control my Dad" her voice strained "Are you jealous?"
"Should I be?" his eyes thinned at the question
"No" she looked at him seriously "It's just that... we still don't know what Dad's got planned, it could be like a meet cute situation you know, and I'd be lying if I said Chris wasn't cute" she looked away from him "But... he's not you"
"So you like the guy?"
"As a sleazy friend" she walked towards him "Footsteps in the mud remember?" she rested her hands on his chest
"I remember" he smiled down at her "I'll make this happen for us, you know that right?"
"I know that" she frowned "I'm so scared about this" she walked away from him, concerned
"We're finally telling our truth"
"I know" she laughed "But how many kids do you honestly know, that announce to their parents that they're going to have sex?"
"This isn't just about the sex though... is it?"
"I hope not" she looked at him "I want us to have everything, together I mean"
"That's what I want too" he walked towards her and grabbed her waist, pulling her to him for a kiss
"So you'd want to marry me then, at some point I mean?"
"Were you asking?" his head jerked back at the turn in the conversation
"I didn't think so, but as it's a question I want an answer to, I guess I am" she giggled pulling away from him "Sam Evan" she grabbed hold of his hands "Will you" she looked into his eyes, both their faces serious "Will you marry me?"
"Mercy I..."
"Sorry" she shook her head at the pending rejection "It just sounded so much better than the 'I want to bone your daughter' speech I had swimming around in my head, it's a stupid idea" she let go of his hands and walked away from him
"No it's not, just let me finish" he walked after her and grabbed her arm gently, tugging her to turn around "Mercy, please just.."
"I'm listening Sam" she turned with tears on her face
"I was going to say, I was going to ask you, but I'll take this, I want to marry you, not today but it's in the five year plan" he laughed "So yes, my answer is yes Princess Mercedes Jones I will marry you, I want to marry you, I need to..." he got out before she dived at him and covered his mouth with hers
"Can we keep this to ourselves until the announcement, Stacey's terrible at keeping secrets?"
"We can, but I still plan on doing the announcement tomorrow" he told her
"I'm right beside you" she smiled "Did we say hello already?" she walked away from him and stood by her bed
"Are we playing a game here?" he asked, following her again
"What game?" she spun round, surprised to see he stood directly behind her
"I'm chasing you around the damn room" he laughed "Come here" he pulled her into him "We just had a moment and we let it pass without calling it" she didn't answer him, she just grabbed his T-shire and pulled him to her, their eyes met and stayed locked, this was important, they were sealing something, there was no room for uncertainty, they were compelled to touch. This wasn't a subtle invitation, but the anticipation made his mouth twitch, he grabbed her waist, and saw her expression change to one of lust, her body relaxed, submissive in his arm, they were both feeling whatever this was, their heads moved closer in unison, their eyes closed and their lips met, the familiarity allowing a unified moan
"I'll remember that moment" he breathed when their lips finally parted for breath "I love making moments with you" he tapped her nose smiling
"Being with you is a moment" she smiled resting her head on his chest "We're engaged" she squealed happy
Bree & Mason
"Mason" Bree shut the door and turned to look at him
"Please Bree not this again, could we not just have a nice holiday with family and forget it?"
"Well no because something needs to change"
"Why does it need to change?" he snapped at her
"Because there's a fucking baby involved, because my Dad's going to hit the fucking roof, because I don't even know if you know this, but long distant Daddy's don't say shit in my world" she stamped her foot at him not listening to her "I'm scared for where this is taking us"
"We knew this was going to be hard when we got back together, we can't just throw the towel in at the first hurdle"
"Why not, I mean this is a big fucking hurdle don't you think?" she huffed "I'm standing here telling you this is too hard for me, why are you not being supportive?"
"If I knew what our next step was going to be, this wouldn't be so freaking frustrating"
"We already agreed our next step, were you even in the damn room" she rolled her eyes with frustration "Test, tell parents" she hissed "Are you stupid?"
"Me stupid?" he gasped "You're asking me to give up Princeton to come sit watch you make films, instead of what I really want to do"
"No Mason, I'm asking you to look outside yourself and acknowledge that there might be a baby to take into consideration, and how are we going to actually do that with you at Princeton and me in Long Beach"
"This has always been about me giving something up, why can't it be you?" he hissed getting to the core of the argument
"Is what we really want to do more important than us, than this?" she touched her tummy
"There won't be any us if we have to become something else to make us fit into it"
"So you want to split up then?" she asked crying
"No" he gasped sitting on the bed "It's not what I want Bree, that would never be what I want, we're having a child" he got up to go to her "Babe I can't leave my dream to come sit watch you live your Dad's dream for you, that's all I'm saying" he hugged her
"If you loved me you would" she looked up at him with desperation in her eyes "You know there's no way in hell Dad's going to let me quit to be with you"
"And I wouldn't ask you to"
"Well I'm asking you"
"That is so not fair" he pulled away from her and walked across the room and out the door
Stacey & Kitty
"I spoke to Sam earlier" kitty told Stacey as they sat on the bed
"I know, did you tell him?"
"No" she frowned "But I came so close to it, I … he's so easy to talk to"
"I know, he's my never do anything wrong brother, I pretend I hate him, but he's the best brother"
"He is, you're lucky to have someone like him in your life"
"We're lucky" she hugged Kitty "I think this might be the perfect opportunity to tell Mom and Dad, what do you think?"
"I'm with you all the way, I'll call mine the second you do" she smiled kissing Stacey's nose "What are we wearing for dinner?"
"Do you think it's one of those dressy things?"
"I don't know, but I don't want to be caught out"
"Casual but smart covers it every time" Stacey told her jumping up to go look in their wardrobe
"Hey, this feels hell of a strange doesn't it?" Kitty asked as they walked into the wardrobe
"Why?" Stacey turned to ask her, after throwing her phone on the bed
"Well we haven't, you know, since we officially hit Ghanaian soil, that's not like us to leave a place un-christened" she pointed at their bed
"So what are we waiting for?" Stacey giggled unzipping her skirt "Lock the door, lets get this wrong righted" she sat on the bed to watch her girl strut over
"Are you sure we got time?" she asked unbuttoning her top as she spoke
"Are you sure?" Stacey held her hand up to stop her getting closer, taking her top off as she stood up for her skirt to fall to the floor
"Fuck Stacey" Kitty moved her girlfriends hand out the way and stepped closer, forcefully parting her legs to stand between them, not giving her any time to take more clothes off, her hand slid between her legs and ripped her pantie crutch smiling as her fingers entered her fiercely, her thumb rubbing at her spot bringing liquid fast "I'm sure" she told her girl, holding her leg in place as Stacey made noise for her roughness
"Kitty Cat" she moaned at her girl making her scream
"Sorry" was all she offered not changing her rhythm or force, smiling as she gave out that familiar scream telling her she'd reached where she needed to be
"Bitch" Stacey gasped at her pulling her by her blouse, to lay on the bed beside her, she was a lot gentler than her partner, as she stroked her thighs sucking at her nipples through her light cotton top, before spreading her legs so wide it exposed her button, which she took in her mouth through her girls panties
"Shit, it's been a while" Kitty hissed with frustration as Stacey brought her as close as she could without letting her burst for a while "Please babe" she finally begged
"There it is" Stacey giggled rolling her eyes, before ramming two fingers inside her and using her mouth to get her off "Now lets go find the shower" she sat up and wrapped a towel around her head, before grabbing Kitty's hand, to make their way to the bathroom
Dinner
Time went fast it was nearing dinner time, everyone got dressed and sat in the lounge "So who are these people that are coming tonight?" Sam asked again, his tone demanding an answer
"I'll be as surprised as you guys" Mercy told him, she knew he was nervous, she turned to Mason and got into conversation about University life, anything she said right now was fuel for his imaginary fire. A while later they went off to join the parents and their visitors for dinner
"Here they are" Clara smiled at her daughter and friends coming through the door "I guess we can do introductions at the table" she waved everyone through to the dining room "Everyone is named" she told them. The parents were handed wine, while they made use of the juices and water being passed around, it was mighty hot, even with the air conditioning on, when the doors opened
"Mercedes, you're here next to me" a guy shouted grabbing Sam's attention
"Oh" Mercy looked back at Sam before stepping off to go sit in her named chair "Thank you Chris" she smiled at the dark skinned guy bearing some similarity to that Daniel Kaluuya
"I guess I get the best seat in the house at the right hand of the Princess" the familiar voice moved the chair beside her
"Mason" she laughed, watching him sit next to her
"I'm Tiana" a girl sat next to Mason smiling at him, she leaned in and kissed his cheek, which he thought was pretty familiar for someone he'd just this second clapped eyes on, but assumed it was customary so he left it. His blood boiled for more than a second, when he looked up to see Bree giving some guy a kiss on the cheek herself, her eyes firmly on him, telling him she wasn't even pretending to be happy about what just happened
"Okay" Clara called hitting her wine glass with a spoon "Let's get introductions done before the food gets cold" she smiled "Of course everyone knows me Clara Jones" she pointed as she called names, new addition being Alex, Simone, Chris and Tariq from Mercy's University. Mercy trying to keep Chris at bay, while watching Alex playing up to Sam, Bree tutting constantly at this Tiana's familiarity with her man, while Mason shuffled uneasily in his chair at Tariq sucking up to his girl, Stacey sat shaking her head, this was going to be an unproductive night, Sam and Mason were head strong and jealous
The starter was served and everyone sampled what they wanted from the wide menu, everyone was trying to keep the evening light, but with Alex constantly whispering in Sam's ear, Tariq's attention hooked onto Bree, Mason busy ignoring polite conversation with Simone while fending off Tiana while trying to serve warning looks to the guy, and Chris threatening to turn into Mr spider hands as Sam watched him attempting to lay hands on his girl, the evening was already proving tense
"Do you think he's the one?" Sam mouthed when Mercy finally looked at him across the table
"No" she told him bringing a smile to his frustrated face, he'd been raising and falling on his chair at everything this Chris did to Mercy, he was either stroking her face or getting so into her space it looked like the man was begging for a freaking kiss or something.
Bree had sleazy Tariq, who seemed to be singing with every word, the guy definitely thought he was in a competition for something they had no business being in one about, constantly smirking at Mason while whispering in her ear
Thinned lipped, Sam and Mason, passed looks across the table all evening, Sam wasn't about to do anything, he was focused on the fact that, him going all star wars right now was not the impression he wanted his in-laws to have of him
Mercy was having problems remembering she was supposed to be the host to this damn holiday get together, she wanted to jump across the table and snap the fork in Alex's throat. She was a bitch, they didn't even talk let alone get on, her Dad inviting her to their home was alien, granted she was a good singer but was this second class bitch really worth losing the dignity of being a Princess in your own home over. She was going to bite this bullet and pass it back to Sam at 100 miles an hour, so she decided to stare it out, he'd get the message, which was clearly 'tell the bitch to back the fuck off'
The main course menu came, everyone sat looking at all the different choices "I'll have the Tenderloin and all the trimmings with wild salad please" Sam rubbed his expectant tummy smiling at the fact that he could have more if he wanted it
"Oh in that case I'll have the Pork Medallions in Mustard source, I was wavering but I can try yours" Alex looked up at him smiling
"I don't think..." he looked across at Mercy in conversation with Chris yet again, and decided to smile about it
"You have something.." Tariq turned to look at Bree, grabbing his napkin to wipe the food left under her bottom lip off
"Hey" Mason shouted across the table, he was never one to hold back for this long, now the idiot had crossed a line "What are you doing?" he looked between Tariq and Bree's surprised faces "Get your hands off her" he stood up
"Mason" Dwight called down the table shocked at the quiet boy's outburst
"What's he doing touching her?" he asked Steve, for some reason his temper was out of control, they watched him get up to step towards Tariq, Sam stood up to counteract anything Mason thought he was going to do in their host's house
"Dude" he called walking fast towards him "What's wrong with you?"
"Mason" Bree got up to stop him too
"Why are you letting him touch you?" his words attacking Bree
"I didn't" her voice trembled with upset
"I was wiping food off her face, what's wrong with that?" Tariq got up telling him, Mason seemed to dive at him, stopped by Sam and now Chris had gotten involved "Sorry if I offended you" Tariq offered
"You offended me" Mason shouted at him, Steve got up to take control of the situation, moving Sam and Chris away
"What's wrong son, has something happened?" Steve grabbed his arm to move him away from Tariq and out the room
"Mason" Bree called, rushing towards him, her Dad turned to stop her, holding his hand out to stop her from getting to Mason
"Don't touch her" Mason shouted at him "She's pregnant"
"What?" whispered around the room, everything stopped, the word echoed for what seemed like forever in their ears
"What?" Steve asked his daughter, looking from her to Mason, Kate now walking towards them
"Roz find them a room" Clara ordered watching as Roz and one of the other maids hurried them out the room "Don't let this food go to waste" she warned sitting back down to eat, and keep minds out of Kate's family business
"De Ja Vu" Mary smiled looking at Dwight, they'd both stopped chewing with what was going on
"Yeah" he smiled remembering her sister's plight some 20 years ago
Flashback
Mary and Kate had just come home from college for the holidays to find Linda was on her period and Kate wasn't, it was something they'd all always done together, but now Mary had announced she was having a baby, it hadn't happened for her this month "Maybe it's because we've been apart again, remember it happened for Linda when she went away"
"But you need to rule everything else out, we've all been away, but she's still come on" Mary told her
"Sit with me" Kate had begged as they gave her the testing pack "What will happen if it's positive?" she looked from Mary to Linda asking
"Hopefully we'll be pregnant together" Mary rubbed her baby bump
"With Mom and Dad I mean" she laughed
"No more than what happened to you when they found out you were with Steve" Linda told her
"What's wrong with Steve?" Mary asked
"What, you mean other than the fact that he was the first black man in the family?"
"Other than that" Mary laughed "He loves you, you love him"
"The question is will Mom and Dad accept your baby" Linda laughed
"I thought this was about me?" Kate asked
"It is" Mary told her "Get that pee on the stick"
They sat around for nearly half an hour while Kate talked herself into it and then actually took the test, she came out of the bathroom, crying but happy "So?" Mary asked
"It's positive" Kate stood telling her older sisters "It's fucking positive, what am I going to do?"
"Get rid of all these for a start" Linda picked the unused pregnancy tests up
"Don't thrown them away, they cost" Kate told her "I'll do another one" she took one from her sister "You can use the other one if you want"
There was a fretful three months before Steve and Kate made their minds up, about what they were going to do, eventually she called her sister's for support, crying more when Linda's test came back positive out the blue, they called Steve round and blarted it out at dinner, it happened just like Bree's just did, only it was their Dad going for Steve and Kate jumped in, of course there was initial rejection for the first four months of the pregnancy, but as soon as Bree was born she was loved by all, it had took three more years for them to take to Steve
End Of Flashback
"Strange how they announced their daughter's coming, in the same way 20 years later" Mary told Dwight
"Let's hope they're remembering what happened back then, and doing things different" Dwight replied
"We have a little music after dinner, get you in the Ghanaian mood, are you guys up for it?" Clara asked as if nothing had just gone on
"Yeah" Sam replied his eyebrows raised, that wasn't something they went for in Big Sur, he was looking forward to different
"And we must hear something of yours" Clara looked at Sam expectantly
"Could I get a taste of your loin?" Alex half whispered in Sam's ear, he looked straight at Mercy, that bitch she'd warned him never to let out was out, the only thing missing was the smoking ears
"No" he told the girl watching her fork dive into his plate, he watched the fork travel all the way to her mouth in disbelief that she'd done it, finally looking back at Mercy, who's mouth had dropped open with shock "I said no" he sat gasping at this girls cheek
"Excuse me" Mercy jumped out her chair and walked quickly across to the door
"Sam" Clara called before he could even think to follow her "What kinds of songs does your group sing?"
"I'll go see what's wrong with her" Chris got up and follow Mercy out the door, Stacey and Kitty both looked at Sam, praying for him not to react, Mason had already got them in a bad light
"There's different genre's in the group, we try not to label ourselves" he smiled, he was in the room, but his mind was elsewhere
Dinner was quickly finished, the desserts were spread across a side table for everyone to help themselves, Sam got up with the crowd with the intention of going to find Mercy and that Chris guy, they'd left the room over 10 minutes ago, he made to leave and smiled when he saw her walking back into the room, but angry to see the guys arm around her "You alright?" Stacey stood close asking him
"I'm fine" Sam smiled, sneaking a look at Mercy, she still didn't look happy, actually she was definitely avoiding his stares
Half an hour later, they were in another room, people seemed to appear from nowhere, he recognised some of King's business men and there was a stage in the middle, a band playing soft music "Is this a disco?" Kitty asked looking around at the old people "Bree" she walked fast over to the girl making an entrance with Mason and her parents in tow "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah it's fine" she smiled "Mom and Dad are not happy but they'll support us" she rolled her eyes telling her usually unconcerned cousin
"So you're thinking of not having the baby then?" Stacey tiptoed between them and hissed in their ears, they both looked at her
"We're having the baby, it's just whether we live in Big Sur or not" Mason told her through his teeth, pissed that was the only thing she had to ask
"Sam" Mercy was suddenly stood in front of him "We'll talk later" she warned
"None of that was my fault" he grabbed her arm, demanding her attention "You can't be mad at me for that" he pulled her to him
"Let me go" she looked down at his hand holding her
"Sorry" he let her go and walked away, tapping his head before walking back to her
"I'm not arguing with you about that damn girl" he told her, she looked around, knowing people could hear them
"You know I've absolutely hated Alex since we started Uni, I told you she was a bitch" she hissed
"The girl has no damn manners, I didn't give her permission to put her fork in my food like that" he grabbed her shaking hand "Why are you mad with me?" he looked around the room
"Fuck you" was all she could muster, she was too hurt "These bitches want to play dirty, in our house?" she huffed at Bree "Oh hell, no way" she called the girls to follow her
"Did you see Mason let that Tiana bitch touch his lips?" Bree asked disgusted, as they walked away "And then he came out like a fucking bull on Tariq because he did it to me, hypocrite" she hissed
"Watch that bitch" Mercy turned to see Alex walking back over towards Sam
"On heat I guess" Kitty snarled at her
Sam and Mason stood watching them walk away, Tiana and Alex determined to keep them talking, it was clear they meant business, no was definitely not an option for them tonight.
"This is a Missy Elliott excusive" they heard just before the girls entered the room half an hour later
"Who's that?" Mason looked at the girls walking through the door "Fuck" he gasped at seeing Kitty in the shortest thing he'd ever seen in his life described as a t-shirt, each girl dressed as some weird Missy Elliott wannabe strutting to the music, Mercy starting them off as they sang and danced around the room to 'Why I Still Love You' by Missy Elliott
Bree (Girls): I keep coming back to you, and I ask myself why, hey, (guess I love that mother too much) just don't waste up my time
Mercy: Mm, I go way out my way, making you satisfied, but (it don't matter, boy) how hard I try
Bree: You don't care how I be feeling inside, you gonna make me tell you, kiss my ass goodbye
Mercy (Girls): (Why the hell I still love you?) Why the hell I still love you, baby (I feel like I can't trust you) and I feel I can't trust you, no, no
(Cheating on me, why must you) hey, cause you do me wrong and you don't do me right (Hey)
I'll fight you and your chick on sight (Hey) don't play with me cause baby, I'm (bout that life)
Mercy: Boy, you know I get jealous, and I don't like to share, hey, I love you so much, till I'm losing myself
Bree (All): I done tried and I tried, [oh] I don't know what to do, you walking round, got the girls thinkin' you cute (Hey)
Mercy [All]: I'm a do me, boy, you can go and do you (Hey) better not play me cause you gonna get the boot
Bree (Girls) (Why the hell I still love you?) why the hell I still love you, love you, baby? (I feel like I cannot trust you) and I feel I can't trust you, can't trust you, no
(Cheating on me, why must you?) it don't matter how hard (It don't matter, baby, how hard I try) Hey
(You don't care how I be feeling inside) Hey (You gonna realize when I find me a new guy)
Mercy & Bree (with Stacey & Kitty): You can go ahead, I'm gonna be alright, pay my own bills, I'm gonna be alright, all by myself, I'm gonna be alright, (I don't need you, I'm gonna be alright) stay where you at, I'm gonna be alright, don't try to come back, I'm gonna be alright (Be on your way, I'm gonna be alright, stay out my face, I'm gonna be alright)
"Your daughter can sing" Steve told King, clapping the performance along with everyone else
"She can, no doubt, but not for a living" King told him
"We said nothing and no one right?" Sam grabbed Mercy's arm when she finished singing her fuck you song
"Nothing and no one" she looked up at him "Sorry I bug out on you for being jealous and then I do this" she laughed "Diva and shit"
"I want to kiss my diva right now" he looked to see where their parents were, Mercy shaking her head, refusing to entertain it
"Okay" She shook her head determined to change the subject "I have diva issues, bite me" she looked at Bree, Kitty and Stacey laughing
They were stood talking when the live performers walk on stage, exciting music and then they started singing in their mother tongue, it didn't take long for everyone to get moving, the music seemed to make the locals think they had a free run of the girls pressing up on them for dances, Sam and Mason stood watching the girls deal with their shit
"What are you doing?" Sam asked his Mom as she grabbed his arm and led him onto the dancefloor, dancing really wasn't his thing, and he didn't think it was hers either, conscious of the people stood around watching them
"Come on" she laughed refusing to take no for an answer, pulling him out into the middle, he stood watching her dance for a while, before he tried to get the hang of it, eventually he was swaying, then the music ended and another song started, his Mom quickly disappeared, but not before leaving him in front of Mercy
"Should we?" he asked unsure what he was asking her to do
"We should" she grabbed his hand and moved to her own beat while he stood trying to catch it, eventually everyone was in the party mood. After a while the tempo slowed as they started listening to the band again, this time they were playing some love songs. Mercy was stood in front of him singing the words to him, she was definitely pressing his love buttons
"Is this what you get up to in that bedroom of yours?" he watched her body moving
"Yes" she giggled dancing around until she saw her Mother coming close and grabbed him to start swaying again
"Your Dad just signed all those artists up" Clara told them, before moving off again on Dwight's arm, singing loudly
"Do you guys do this every Christmas?" Sam asked still moving to the music
"No, we usually celebrate very quietly, I guess Mom's trying to make it nice for you guys"
"Sam" Mason walked over to them "Mrs Jones just asked if we'd do a song"
"I.." he looked at Mason thinking "I wish Jake was here, we're gonna flop"
"Faith" Mason knocked his shoulder telling him
"Yeah faith" Mercy knocked his shoulder making him laugh
"Okay faith" he rubbed his shoulder "Come on" he told Mason walking towards the stage
"Hey" Mercy pulled him back to her "Bring you"
"Me?" he rolled his eyes
"Yeah you" she told him
There was a deafening silence as the band stopped playing, he grabbed a guitar Mason took the drums and got ready strumming a few chords as Mason spoke "There's only two of us here but we'll do our best, this one's been created by all of us but perfected by Sam" he nodded for them to start playing
"This is a little something called 'Either You Love Me Or You Don't' by Plested we like it" Sam told them smiling at Mercy, they took verses each and sang the chorus together
"That went way better than rehearsal" Mason laughed after the last note
"Way better" Sam laughed, his eyes finally leaving Mercy
The music went on for another hour or so before King called time on it all at 11pm, reminding everyone they had a busy day tomorrow, everyone politely saw the guests out before making their way to their quarters
"Thank the lord for that" Mason hissed as they turned to make their way back to their rooms
"What a fucking night" Kitty hissed as they walked back up the corridor
"It almost felt staged" Stacey commented
"Knowing my Dad, nothing's done for nothing" Mercy told them
"Are they coming back?" Sam asked
"I don't know, why?" Mercy asked
"Because I never want to see that freaking Alex again, she actually stole my damn food" he told her "Can you believe that?"
"That Chris was such a sleaze, I was watching him" Stacey added
"I know what I saw, that Tariq was definitely coming on to you" Mason told Bree
"This is a long ass walk" Bree changed the subject, everyone stopping at the double door to the east wing
East Wing
"So" Stacey closed the door as she walked into the living room behind everyone else "Tell the truth, are you guys happy about the baby?" everyone stood waiting for the answer
"Yeah we're happy" Bree told her
"Mason?" she looked at him waiting for an answer
"What?" he asked looking into her eyes "Bree already told you, she speaks for both of us"
"It's just that... never mind"
"Look, we didn't really know what we wanted, until we had that conversation with her Mom and Dad tonight" he smiled at Bree "But now, yeah we're happy"
"What, so now you're happy that you have to give you damn life up to fit in to Uncle Steve's picture of what Bree's life should be?"
"No" he snapped
"Don't lie Mason, you said you weren't willing to compromise on your education, so what are you about to do now"
"There's a baby on the way Stacey, it changes everything" he told her
"Even your life choices?"
"Leave him alone, he's made his choice" Bree snapped at her
"You and your family might be able to bully him into anything you want him to do, but you can't fuck with me"
"Is that so?" Bree asked threateningly
"Mason" Stacey turned her attention back to him "Please tell me they don't want you to give up everything at Princeton" she rolled her eyes at him still needing to look at Bree for his answer "And please, for fuck sake tell me you're not considering doing it?"
"I've warned you Stacey, this is none of your damn business" Bree told her
"No it isn't Stacey back off" Sam finally jumped in telling his sister "Kitty, calm her the fuck down" he ordered "Sorry about her" he rolled his eyes at the drama "Congratulations" he hugged
"Yeah congratulations" Mercy echoed
"Sam" Bree called her cousin "Can we have a word?"
"Sure" he stood holding Mercy's hand "Can you give us a minute?" he asked Mercy when Bree got to him, watching her walk away before he turned back to his cousin "What's up?"
"About the pregnancy thing, I only found out about an hour before I went to pick Mason up to get to Maddie's party, we hadn't even had time to talk ourselves, I didn't even know he was going to throw it out like that, I don't want you thinking..."
"It's fine, everyone has secrets"
"Maybe, but we don't, between us, do we?"
"I" he looked at Mercy smiling, trusting "I just want you guys to be alright, it's going to be hard"
"I know, we're still arguing about where we're going to be based, you know Dad"
"You don't have to explain or justify yourself to me Cuz"
"You're still my favourite cousin you know that?" Bree pulled him close and kissing his cheek
"Mason" he called over to his friend sat talking to Mercy "Goes without say, I will gun butt beat you for her"
"She'll do it for you" he laughed
"And what would you do for me?" Mercy walked towards him asking
"Take a bullet, stop the end of the world, start a whole new world, there's nothing I wouldn't do" he grabbed her waist and pulled her to him "And pray tell what would you do for me?"
"Everything, including slap a bitch"
"When did you start swearing?" he looked up at her shocked
"The day Alex whoever the fuck she thinks she is, came up in my house and disrespected my man" she giggled "It's nearly Christmas Day" she looked over at the clock on the wall
"We need to talk" he grabbed her hand and led her out the room saying their goodnights
Sam & Mercy
"What's the matter?" she asked watching him shut the door behind him
"This plan we made to do this tonight" he walked towards her
"I know, it's time" she smiled walking towards him, grabbing his shirt and pulling him into her "I'm ready" she reached up and pecked his lips, her left hand grabbing his waist pulling him closer, while her right hand went up his back, she found his mouth and let her tongue attempt to part his lips, suddenly she pulled back "This is our moment" she looked into his eyes lustfully, he couldn't resist that look, his arms wrapped around her, taking her lips again
"Mercy" he pulled her off him
"What?" she smiled pulling him back to her
"I... I've changed my mind"
"About?" she stepped back asking
"About this, doing this"
"Fuck" she hissed, looking around the room, how could she have got this so wrong, she felt stupid, heartbroken, numb, deeply hurt, she looked back at him, her eyes thinned at this boy that had led her to believe his lies "Get out"
"Let me explain"
"Get out" she shouted at him, turning her back on him
"But, you're taking this the wrong way. I.."
"Just get out Sam" she told him refusing to turn to look at him, for him to see how much he'd hurt her
"Look at me" his voice angry, he was mad at himself for getting this all wrong, and mad at her for thinking he'd never meant anything he'd ever said to her "I'm not leaving, so you might as well hear me out"
"I heard you" she turned round shouting at him "Just leave me a..."
"No you didn't, you heard what you wanted to hear"
"So now this is my fault?" she looked up at him
"It's nobody's fault, just listen to me" he grabbed her arm and pulled her to him "I love you, how could you even imagine that would change in a second?"
"I'm standing here trying to understand how this happened" she looked into his eyes
"You're still not hearing me Mercy" he hugged her "Calm down, we need to talk"
"I can't calm down" she pushed out of his arms "My worlds falling apart"
"No it isn't" he laughed "It's coming together, if we're going to do this we're going to do it right, I want to ask for your hand in marriage, I want our parents to give us their blessing, and I want us to set a date before we go home"
"So what will happen to me?"
"You're still not listening"
"You want to set a date before you go home, so what about me?"
"Before we go home, I'm hoping you'll come with me, everything's sorted back there, I have somewhere for us to live, you can study Management or anything else you want, I have a steady income, we can do this"
"So why can't we do this now?" she pointed at the bed
"Because I don't want to have a bad relationship with my in-laws, of my doing" he stood in front of her "We need to think of my Mom's rep, the relationship between our families, I know my parents would see things different if I fronted up" he grabbed her hand "And that's why as much as I want to do this right now, I have to think of your honour, what you mean to your parents and what I want our relationship to be" he kissed her fingers "Please tell me you understand what I'm trying to say"
"I actually do" she giggled sitting on the bed "But I want this for us so bad"
"Like a bitch" he knelt and kissed her "Do I still need to go?"
"No" she pulled him to her "Never" she pulled him onto the bed with her, and lay in his arms humming 'Sometimes' by H.E.R she looked up at him smiling when he joined in, they lay singing the words
Mercy (with Sam): (I had a day, I had a vision) this was the day I was supposed to be living (living) instead of worrying 'bout the temporary things
I hate not knowing where it's gonna take me (So many no's, so many yes, ooh I was sure, but now I'm guessing)
Feel like my faith keep getting tested, I need a sign, I need a message,
Cause sometimes shit don't go your way, sometimes (Sometimes) and sometimes you gone have those days (days yeah)
And sometimes you'll feel out of place (And sometimes you feel out of place) you (can't promise me it'll be) the same
(Cause sometimes change, yeah, yeah sometimes change, yeah yeah) sometimes change...
"Well there's one thing that's not changing for us isn't there?" she stopped to ask
"What?" he looked down at her
"Sex" she laughed "Are you sure about that?" she giggled
"Close your eyes and go to sleep" he laughed, they both lay thinking about what wasn't happening, until they fell asleep