This Is The Right Time
The Palace
Day 4
02:00
"What are you doing up?" Sam walked into the living room to see Bree sitting cosily on the couch with her feet wrapped under her, sipping hot milk
"Too much going on in my head" she smiled "This supposed to be a happy occasion but I'm..."
"It all came out wrong didn't it?"
"Wrong is an understatement, we hadn't even thought about what we were going to do ourselves" she huffed "Now the Mom's are excited, i think they've even chosen colleges for it, while Mason and I are still stressing about where we're going to live for fuck sake"
"Tell them, just tell them you haven't decided yet, there's no point in stressing, I read somewhere it's bad for pregnant Moms"
"You of all people know, telling my parents anything always blows up to it all being about them" she laughed
"Stacey should have been their daughter" he laughed
"There you are, I was worried" Mason walked into the room "Great minds" he walked towards the kitchen to make himself a drink "Are you alright Sam, we didnt get a chance to talk earlier?"
"Yeah I'm fine just a bit pissed..."
"Stacey yeah, fancy that, I can't even say I'm surprised" Mason interrupted him
"She's always been selfish" Bree added
"But she's still my sister and I would have liked to have been there" he told them
"What for, to stop it?" Stacey walked in asking
"No.." Sam looked at her shocked at her attitude
"Because no one could have stopped it, we wanted to do it, and we did it, I don't think I have to explain myself to anyone" she shouted
"What's going on?" Kitty came running in looking around the room at everyone glaring at Stacey "What's the matter?" she asked her wife
"I'm just fed up with everyone thinking they can have a say on our fucking lives" Stacey told her upset
"Why do you think it's alright to swear at me?" Sam asked her, he was getting angry, this was nothing to do with her, it hadnt started with her and yet here she was, yet again, making it all about Stacey fucking Evans
"I didn't swear at you" she looked at her brother "So now you're speaking to me?" she asked him
"No" he hissed
"Sam" she walked up to him "I'm sorry we didn't tell you"
"Tell me?" he stepped away from her "You didn't even think me"
"Bree had a secret too, but you spoke to her, and I'm your sister"
"And that meant nothing to you then, and it means nothing to you now"
"Stop it" Bree shouted at them
"Who the fuck are you?" Stacey looked at her "Butt out"
"Who the fuck am I?" Bree asked like she couldn't believe Stacey had just said that to her
"What's all the noise?" Mercy walked into the room rubbing her eyes "Sam?" she asked, concerned at the look on his face
"Bree calm down" Mason walked over to her with his drink in hand "The baby"
"The fucking baby" Stacey mimicked him
"Stacey" Mercy whispered, trying to calm things down "That's not nice" she grabbed Sam's arm as she spoke
"Did you hear what she just said?" Bree asked Mason
"Yeah I did" Mason stepped forward, putting his drink on the coffee table that stood between them all "Sam, I'm sorry but I'm about to break a code" he looked at his friends "Who the fuck do you think you are?" he stepped up to Stacey "I don't care what shit you and Bree have going on, you're out of order to bring our baby into this"
"I didn't bring your baby into..."
"I'm sorry Bree" Sam grabbed his cousin's hand, seeing the hurt on her face for what Stacey had said, feeling he'd done the wrong thing when she burst into tears "Shit" he looked at Mercy when Bree fell onto his chest sobbing
"At least I have the support of my baby's Father" Bree suddenly hissed at Stacey
"What?" Sam and Kitty asked at the same time, Stacey's face drained of blood
"Yeah you thought your little fucking secret was buried for life didn't you, gone and forgotten?" she asked
"Bree" Stacey's bottom lip trembling
"Oh now it's Bree, not Bree's fucking baby, because Bree knows your dirty little secret Stacey Evans"
"Bree" Stacey's voice begging
"So I'm sure everyone knows that Marley and Jake had a bit of a bad time of it because he kissed a girl" Bree looked around the group stood around the table, lights coming on in everyone's head "Meet Jake's kiss" she pointed at Stacey
"You're lying" Kitty stood looking at Bree "She's lying right?" She asked Stacey
"Kitty I..."
"Please tell me she's lying, we told each other everything before we got married again, you told me there were no more secrets"
"Again?" Sam gasped, his concern seemed to get lost in the heat of the moment
"I'm sorry" Stacey told her wife as she watched her back away from her
"Oh and if we're going to take oaths, send people's unborn children into damnation, we need to tell the whole truth, don't we Stacey" Bree asked smiling
"Bree don't, stop, you've said enough" Mason told her
"What you knew about this?" Sam asked Mason "And there's me telling her to get over that kiss, did Marley know it was her?"
"Of course she did" Bree told him "She saw him give her the money for the abortion"
"Hold up, I thought this was a kiss?" Sam asked Bree, but he was looking at Stacey as he spoke "A fucking abortion?"
"Bree" Mason looked at her, disappointed
"You had a baby?" Kitty walked up to her asking
"Kitty I..." was all she got out before Kitty slapped her face, everyone stood watching as Stacey almost fell to the floor with the power she put behind it. Sam didn't even feel like he wanted to do anything about that, if they'd have been twin boys, he wouldnt have been able to stop himself "Kitty" Stacey muttered as she got her bearings back, and stood watching her wife walk out the room
"Was that really called for? Mason asked Bree
"It was well overdue, why is everyone holding secrets for that girl when she's such a fucking Grinch?"
"Okay" Sam held his hand up "That's enough" he looked at Bree
"I'll calm her down" Mason told him nodding for Bree to follow him out of the room
"Come on Stacey" Sam grabbed his sister's arm and walked towards the couch
"Let's give them some space" Mercy told herself, when she realised she was the only one standing there, quickly vacating the living room
Sam & Stacey
"What a fucking mess" she cried into her hands, he could do nothing but hug her
"You talk a fine game about being minutes older, but when shit comes down Stacey, I got the brains" he told her making her laugh
"I've made such a mess of things"
"But you're still here" he hugged her tighter "Why didn't you come to me, that secret would have been safe for life"
"Because I" she looked up at him "I didn't want you to be ashamed of me" she huffed "You're always talking about those girls at school, you put me on such a high pedistel"
"I think I took you off that the day you blackmailed Mercy into saying she was into you" he laughed
"I've lost Kitty haven't I?" she looked at him tears rolling down her face
"You've broken a trust, that's going to take some work, I can't imagine she's fallen out of love with you that fast, but..."
"It's up to her I know" she rolled her eyes "What happened to me Sam, when did I turn into this evil, vindictive, lying, bitch"
"Two days after birth I would guess" he laughed "You're not, not really, I know the real you don't forget" he hugged her "I know the Stacey who cried when you heard Mom and Dad talking about the possibility of Tinky Winky being pulled because, they were arguing his sexuality" he laughed "And I can still see you dancing and singing along with Laa-Laa like you were on centre stage yourself, your face when you got your applause" he laughed
"I was good" she laughed slapping his arm
"You are good, most the time, Kitty brings that out in you" he frowned "You better pray she forgives you and work at it" he hugged her "Are you alright?"
"I am now" she looked up at him smiling
"I mean after the baby and everything, is that why you went in so hard on Bree?"
"Maybe subconsciously, yes, but I'm sure she knows I love her, even after what I said and what she just did"
"You need to talk to her"
"You can choose your friends, but you can't..."
"Choose your family" he smiled at her "Except wives of course" he quickly added "I'm happy for Kitty and you, if that's what you guys really want"
"It is" she smiled up at him "And you and Mercy, what's happening there?"
"She asked me to marry her and I said yes" he smiled
"Seriously?" she sat up excited
"Yeah, we're not getting married just yet, maybe live together for a while, do some things we want to do, tell the parents and all that, but we are getting married"
"Congratulations" she kissed his cheek
"We were meant to tell the parents tonight"
"That's what you were pissed about, you made a promise?"
"Yeah" he laughed
"And there was me thinking it was all about me" she laughed
"That's the Stacey I know" he told her "Come on you've got some talking to do" he told her pulling her up
"And you've got some…" she looked up at him
"Nothing, just watching her fall asleep in my arms is doing it for us just now"
"What the hell are you guys waiting for?"
"She's the daughter of a very powerful man, I have no intentions of falling on his bad side, Mercy couldn't live without the support of her family, I would never ask her to do that, we want to do this right"
"You're such a gentlemen, if you weren't my brother, I'd maybe love you a bit more than I do" she looked up at him "No" she grinned "That's a lie, I love you to the moon and back already, I know I hardly show it, but I do"
"And I love you too"
"I know, I'm your favourite girl"
"Sorry that ship has sailed, you used to be my favourite girl, but Mercy's taken that place now too"
"Bitch" she looked at him laughing
"I really wouldn't go there if I was you, Bree's a kitten compared to her" he laughed
"I love her really, she's a great sister"
"Go sort your shit out" he pushed her towards her bedroom door
"Wish me luck" she leaned on the door looking at him
"Good luck" he smiled watching her walk into the bedroom and shut the door behind her
Stacey & Kitty
03:00
"Kitty" she sighed as soon as she saw her sitting on the bed she knew she was crying "Can we talk?"
"I'd love to hear you talk Stacey, what shit's coming out your damn mouth this time?" she spat
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you..."
"You can tell me now" she looked up at her "I want to know every detail"
"Why, it's in the past"
"Well the past has come back to fucking haunt us hasn't it, so I want all the details" she hissed at her
"I just don't see the point in going over all this..."
"The point is Stacey, I'm ready to walk" she spat at her
"Okay details" she sat on the bed, her back facing her wife "It happened the night we split up, Jake and Marley had been arguing about something or the other I can't actually remember what, but we ended up at the studio together" she quickly looked at Kitty before carrying on "We were both telling each other we were strong enough and this wasn't the end, when we broke into song, he had some beats going and we were just messing about. The suddenly we were singing some song to the tune that didn't really match and we were dancing, I remember dancing around and then suddenly we stopped, we were stood in front of each other and we just kissed and them it happened" she quickly looked at Kitty's face before her head went back down
"And then what?"
"Like what?" she turned to look at her
"I'm asking the questions, you're giving me answers" she snapped
"And then" she rolled her eyes "And then I was standing there with my dress up my waist, his trousers were around his ankles and Marley's standing at the door, we didn't even think to lock the damn thing" she huffed "The next thing I know I'm standing there alone, Jake's gone after Marley, so I just pull my underwear up, my dress down and left. the next day Ryder's telling me to keep my mouth shut and keep away from Marley and Jake"
"But what, you couldn't, you kept going back?"
"No" she gasped "It wasn't like that, it happened just one time" she looked at her telling her "Then about two weeks later I'm vomiting, not eating and feeling awful, I joined the dots and get a test, it was positive, I tried to contact Jake but they were all blocking me, so I took things into my own hands and went to a clinic. When I finally got the details I walked up to Jake and told him, of course he wanted to support me, but I said no, so he met me at the clinic with the money and I went in alone"
"Went through what alone?"
"The... I went through that alone"
"Through what?" Kitty asked forcing her to say the word
"The abortion, I had the abortion alone Kitty, is that what you wanted to hear" she turned crying and angry for having said it
"Yes" she hissed "We weren't together but for you to think you needed to go through all that alone?" she shook her head "Upsets me"
"I couldn't tell anyone, not even you, we'd just split up, Sam was grieving, Mom and Dad had just lost Gramps and Grandma, I didn't feel like I had anyone. I'd actually had sex with a boy, that was creepy on it's own, feeling totally empty straight after to be told a baby came from that, I was ashamed, vomiting every second and friendless, I didn't feel like there was anyone there for me, I had no choice, I had to do it alone"
"I just wish you'd have told me"
"I couldn't, I felt so ashamed, dirty, vindictive, I couldn't say anything without breaking my cousin's heart all over again
"You poor thing, I'm here now" she smiled grasping her wife's hand "My heart sings in a key no one has heard, and when you doubt, you make me smile, I tune out the world, and all the sadness disappeared like magic, and love was all that remained, you can't run, you can't hide, from my love" she sang her part from their wedding song to her bride
She smiled at her wife before grabbing her hands, singing her part of their song "Never, I thought but I was wrong, have to make sure every morning, wasn't a dream, cause that's what it seems, but you're real, I can't stop falling, a deep connection, oh, your imperfection, I wouldn't change you at all, you can't run no, you can't hide, from my love"
Singing to each other as they remembered their vows to each other "People can say what they want, I really don't care at all, I know this love is for real, and I don't care about the way they feel, cause I know that I'd trade it all for you. The ground may shake us, one day the sky will take us, despite what we go through, you can't run, you can't hide, you can't run, you can't hide, you can't run, baby, you can't hide, from my love 'My Love' by Star Cast
"I want to hate you Stacey, I really do" she told her crying "But I love you, and we made a vow that day and I meant every word of it"
"So did I" Stacey told her "I'm making a vow to prove to you that I meant them too, I promise to keep nothing else from you, ever in my life"
"This is your very last chance for us"
"And I won't fuck it up, I promise" she grabbed hold of her hands tight, falling backwards onto the bed, it was more than she'd expected when she walked into their bedroom, so she'd take this, she fell asleep thinking how lucky she was, Kitty understanding a bit more, why she'd been so different since they'd got back together
Mercy & Sam
"Everything sorted?" Mercy sat on the bed asking Sam as he walked into the bedroom
"Your parents must think we're crazy with everything that's gone on since we've been here"
"I think my Mom's loving all the drama, she tells me stories about her life before Ghana, it sounds much the same" she giggled
"I'm sorry we didn't get to do our thing tonight" he sat beside her and pulled her to him
"I'll forgive you if we can do our thing tonight" she moved in to kiss his lips
"Mercy" he pulled away "I want this, I really do, we went as far as I'd ever go back home, but we agreed, we need to speak to our parents first"
"Sam" she rolled her eyes at this recurring conversation
"No Mercy, we've been a secret for too long already, I refuse to go that far being a fucking secret"
"I'll walk away shall I?" she got up and walked out of the room
Sam sat on the bed with his head in his hands, how the hell was he having arguments about not having sex, with the one person in the world he wanted to have it with "Mercy" he got up making his way to the door. Checking the living room, studio, library, theatre, and even the pool before deciding she wasn't there and went out into the corridor "Mercy" he called as he saw her walking down the corridor "Hold up" he called after her. She didn't turn, she just carried on walking, he went running after her "Mercy" he finally reached her and pulled her arm "I'm sorry"
"What for?" she carried on walking
"For being so... old fashioned, insensitive, scared of your Dad, everything" he walked backwards in front of her as he spoke
"I love all those things about you Sam" she smiled
"So what's this about?" he stopped walking forcing her to do the same
"You started swearing, I'm out of there before you lose control"
"What, with you?" he gasped "That will never happen"
"So you say"
"Mercy" he grabbed her shoulders "I mean it, that would never happen I swear on my life"
"So why did you stand there and let Kitty hit Stacey, if you don't agree with it?"
"Because I was standing there thinking if she was a guy, I'd have done exactly the same, she's my sister but when she's wrong, she's wrong" he told her "She messed with Bree, Marley and probably Ryder as well as Jake, she broke a code, and I was glad it was her wife doing it, and not me"
"So you enjoyed watching?"
"No" he hissed "Why are we arguing about Stacey?"
"Because she's going to be my sister, the only one I'll ever have"
"Oh" he smiled at this not being the end "I'm sorry, we made peace afterwards though, sorted everything out, she begging Kitty as we speak" he moved out of her way and watched her carry on walking "Where are you going?" he followed her
"To Dad's studio"
"What" he looked at her "Are we going to tell him now?"
"No I want to practice the song, it sounds better in there" she laughed
"Are we allowed down there?"
"I'm allowed anywhere, this is my home" she grabbed his hand and carried on walking until they finally got to the studio "The acoustics are much better in here" she opened the door for them to get in "We need to decide on a beat" she started flipping switches turning on lights and systems
"Wow" Sam gasped at the gold switches and plush chairs, this was a different space from the one they'd been in earlier, everything seeped money, top of the range stuff, things he was planning on upgrading to, he was in a sweet shop
"Dad used to be a rapper stroke singer in his hay day, he still dabbles in here sometimes" she watched Sam getting lost in the system "What is that?" she asked, offended, listening to his typical incidental beat
"It's the music I've been playing around with for our song" he smiled listening for perfection
"I don't sing whatever that is, sounds like a cross between Jazz, Country and R&B" she told him laughing "My songs definitely R&B"
"So now we have a problem" he smiled "Because this is the beat" he pulled her across to where he stood "Just try it" he got his phone out for the lyrics he'd written. Mercy stood listening to him, determined she wasn't going to sing her song to that music and he was going to find that out the hard way "Mercy" he frowned when she didn't join in "You wouldn't even try"
"Sorry Sam I'm not feeling it, you started too high, it sounds bungled in places, my words just wouldn't fit" she sat on the stool telling him
"Because you want it in R&B?"
"If I promise to try your way will you try mine?" she watched him nodding a yes
"Promise?" he replied his face breaking into a smile at her face lighting up "Okay lets start again" he caught up with the beat and started singing again, the chorus was alright, but the verses were all wrong "Okay" he stopped the music "I admit it wasn't quite what I was looking for, so let's try your version" he sat listening to her giving him the beat, while he tried to mimic it on the system
The Parents
"Well that was the last one" King told them watching the last audition walk out the door "Imagine all that time and just three potentials"
"You know I heard Sam listening to someone on his phone on the way over, he said it was someone that was using his studio, asked him to listen over some stuff they'd recorded it was good" Dwight told him
"Who was it?" King asked
"I didn't ask, it's his studio and everything I just left him to it, but it's on his phone so I guess we could ask" he told him
"Fancy a nightcap?" King asked Steve and Dwight
"Or two" Steve laughed as they walked off towards his study
"We'll entertain ourselves then shall we?" Mary asked watching them walk off
"Sorry love, I'll call you on my way back through" Dwight told her "Won't be long" Mary just gave a knowing look and walked off with Clara and Kate to the drawing room
"So never mind night caps, what's this I hear about you two setting up Sam and Mercy?" Steve asked looking at the two men, watching King shut the door behind them
"I don't know what you mean" Dwight told him looking at King
"Where did you hear that?" King spun round asking
"Well Kate heard the end of a conversation between Mary and Clara about some boy that Mercy was supposed to marry, and I put the rest together" he laughed "I know you Dwight" he smiled "And I've been watching that boy sniff around your daughter with not even so much as a disapproving look from you, Clara and Mary are smiling at each other every second, I'm not stupid"
"Okay" King looked at Dwight smiling "It started out as our plan, but it's up to them now"
"Details" Steve sat down almost demanding of the two men
"There was a boy she'd been paired with all her life, but he turned out to be a villain, got a woman pregnant and almost beat another one to death so we decided against him" King told him "Dwight and I met through some music collaboration one of my artists was keen to set up, I held off for a while, but then Kelly came over, and to be fair, they sounded good together, so I approached Dwight" he looked at Dwight sitting near Steve now
"They used Sam's studio to make the record, so King and I met up unofficially a couple of times, back home" Dwight told him "Then one day we just started talking business, and suddenly we were planning collaborations all over the place, Country, Pop and R&B coming together in ways it never had before, it was exciting times"
"Yeah then we set up that first official meeting, a day before Dwight was due to get here, I get a call from him cancelling everything, I was livid, ready to pull out" King laughed "I called and got Mary, I was so angry, but I couldn't do anything but rebook when she told me his parents had passed, and their son was taking it so hard, Dwight didn't want to leave him. I remembered when my Mother died and I couldn't even go to the funeral because of my shady past, if I'm honest I liked the fact that for this man I was going into business with, nothing came before his family" he looked at Dwight smiling
"King was kind enough to make it to the funeral" Dwight told him
"I remember us all wondering who he was, and before we could ask questions, he was gone" Steve replied
"We sat for a while talking about our children, specifically Sam and Mercy, and by the end of that conversation, we'd established, we both wanted the best for our children and the two might be a good fit" King told them "Dwight wasn't too sure about it, he rightly wanted Sam to get married for love, and deep down I wanted that for Mercy too, but sometimes love can make you so stupid"
"Main problem being they were both strong headed" Dwight laughed "The hardest part was talking Mary and Clara into it, but within what two weeks?" he asked a nodding King "We'd got a maybe, with a 'it has to be because they want it' clause and we took that" he smiled "So of course we set up the meet cute" he sat back pleased with himself
"Mary said it went like clockwork, she didn't do a thing, they gravitated to each other" King laughed
"And we think they actually like each other, all this is to see if they do, or if we're pushing them together" King told them
"We've totally backed off" Dwight added
"So what if this doesn't work?" Steve asked
"Then we go back to the drawing board with Mercedes" king told him
"Sam's free to do what he wants relationship wise, but I've noticed a difference in him since Mercy's been around"
"What's that?" Dwight looked at the alarm flashing rapidly on King's desk
"It's alright, it's Mercedes wondering around again, she's been in the studio for a while now" King told them
"She really sings?" Dwight asked
"Not really, well yeah, she does, but I don't want her in the industry" King told them
"So what's she doing in the studio?" Steve asked
"It might be Sam, he's interested in studios" Dwight added
"Come on let's go have a look" Steve got up and walked towards the door "You've got me interested in how this pans out now, it's love, romance all of that mushy stuff" he laughed, watching the others get up
"Mary, Kate, Clara" Dwight whispered as they walked past the drawing room
"What" Mary whispered back walking towards him
"We're spying" he replied grabbing her hand to make their way down the corridor
Sam & Mercy
"Are you sure that's it?" he looked up at her finally smiling at the beat
"That's it" she laughed "I expect you to do some intro like oh, ah and a few yea's to get the mood"
"This really isn't me" he stood listening to the music
"Don't be scared of the music, just sing to me" she pulled his top moving him closer "We know we mean the words, we wrote them"
"Every word" he smiled watching her move the mic, the only thing stopping their lips from touching "Here goes" he smiled as he started singing their song, it was a bit rough, and totally out of his depth, but even he had to admit she was right, it sounded good, believable even.
They finished the last note and lunged at each other "Need I ask what you thought?" she giggled when they let each other go
"You were right, it sounds good... its actually what we in the business call a wrap" he laughed pulling her back to him to take her lips again
"You even sounded like an R&B artist" she grinned "Major turn on"
"I wish we could go further" he pulled her flush against his body, she could feel what he meant
"We can" she teased
"But we agreed" he pulled away
"Not to have sex yes" she pulled him back to her "But we can.." she ran her fingers over his trouser zip, smiling at his hardness hitting her fingers off him with a twitch
"So you don't want the lifetime thing then?" he pulled her closer to him, he was so tempted
"What makes you say that?" she looked up at him puzzled
"Because you're looking for your parents to kill me" he giggled "You don't get this do you?" he stopped to look at her "Next time I touch you I want it all, no bars held, all, and I won't settle for anything less"
"I get it" she laughed "But a girl can try, can't she?"
"You mean a girl can tease" he pulled her to him his body telling her something different to his words when he kissed her again "Let's go to bed"
"At last" she turned to follow him, smiling at finally wearing him down
"To sleep" he laughed rolling his eyes at her still trying
"You know we're not going to sleep Sam, we're going to lay awake wondering what's holding us back" she giggled
"We both know that Princess" he laughed, reminding her of why it wasn't happening
The Parents
The parents got to the studio just as Sam started singing, they stood in the back booth listening to their children singing "I've never heard him sing like this before" Mary told them
"I've hardly ever heard him sing but his voice sounds familiar" Dwight told them
"Where did he get his R&B influence from?"
"They learn them all sorts at Julliard you know" Kate told them
"Are we even sure that's Sam singing in there?" King asked
"Yeah" Mary told them "That's him"
"Arrh he loves her" Steve smiled looking at King, listening to the song
"Is anyone familiar with the song?" Clara asked
"No it must be an original" Steve told her
"Is that my girl?" King gasped at hearing Mercy joining in "This is beautiful"
"I've heard this voice before" Dwight told them
"It could be them, they were at the studio a few times together, in Big Sur" Mary told him
"That's it, they were singing on Sam's phone"
"What do you think?" King asked
"They sound good together" Dwight told him
"Well I think it's totally up to them" Mary told everyone "Come on they'll be leaving soon" she walked fast to the door
"Did she just offer herself to him?" Clara asked shocked, everyone turned back wondering what was going to happen next
"Let them have some privacy" King told them "All the others are at it, but he won't.." they all stood and listened to more of their private conversation "See" he smiled at Sam knocking her back "He knows me already"
"She was joking" Mary added "Come on we need to go, that's a private conversation" she opened the door, everyone quickly followed her out and up the stairs to their rooms
11:00
East Wing
"Morning" Clara called to them walking up the corridor "We're out for the day, see you at dinner" she told them shutting the door behind her, being the last one out
"We can eat down here if you want guys, just stay in all day, I guess what I'm saying is, that's what I'm doing because I'm knackered" Mercy told them
"We didn't get much sleep either" Bree told everyone
"I think everyone needs to talk, clear the air" Sam suggested
"So we're going back?" Mercy asked
"Yeah" Mason told her, everyone turned around to walk back to the east wing
"Roz" Mercy called through the phone "Could we get some brunch, and extras please?" she smiled at the conversation they were having before closing the call. Within minutes there were people in making drinks, cleaning rooms, taking washing, finally hurrying out when Roz and a few others came in with trays of food, fresh fruit and drinks.
"I don't know how they get up and down that corridor so damn fast" Mason watched them all leaving
They sat on the large couch surrounding the table of food, taking what they wanted, eating and waiting for this uncomfortable conversation to start "I guess as the outsider here I should start" Mercy finally broke the silence
"You're not an outsider" Stacey smiled at her
"Thank you" Mercy smiled back at her "I actually have nothing to do with the actual argument you guys had last night, but I do take issue with Kitty hitting Stacey, I spoke to Sam about it last night, I don't think it was merited, actually I don't think any act of violence is necessary, not with someone you say you love, and so" she looked around the room "I can see you guys have made up after that, but, I'd appreciate it Kitty, if you'd publically apologise, and never do that to Stacey again"
"I said as much to her this morning, I guess it was the shock of hearing everything, it was wrong and I do apologise for my actions, it will never happen again" she looked at Stacey before kissing her cheek
"I'd like to apologise to Bree and Mason for saying that horrible thing about your baby, there's no real excuse, but after talking to kitty last night I guess I wasn't dealing with my emotions around the abortion well, I was bottling it all up, and I guess I threw it all at you the first chance I got" she smiled at Bree "We're cousins I love you, I hope you know that, and if you don't I'm going to be working hard to make sure you do" she smiled "Maybe one day you can forgive me"
"I'm sorry for throwing your stuff out there too, I knew what I was doing and it was a hateful thing to do" Bree responded
"Merited I might add" Stacey told her
"Whatever it was, it wasn't the right time or place, and it seriously wasn't my story to tell, I apologise too"
"Nevertheless, I want to thank you for doing it, because I think last night I started to face my demon, and that's all down to you" Stacey told her
"There's just one more thing" Kitty held her hand up "We'd like to apologise for getting married behind everyone's back, it sounded like that, but really it was a action based on a drunken night we shared at a local club, we woke up in shock the next day when we saw the rings on our fingers. Then finding these random two guys on the couch in our flat telling us we'd got married" she laughed "It was literally the day after, we went back to the chapel to confirm it was true, and I can't lie, we cried at what we'd done" she grabbed Stacey's hand "We ended up paying again, to have it done all over again, and actually said and sang our vows for real" she laughed "Don't ever think it's a good idea to do something like that when you've had a skin full"
"Bree and I are getting married before the baby's born, we haven't told the parents yet" Mason told everyone "I asked her and she said yes" he grabbed her hand smiling
Sam looked at Mercy, this was the perfect opportunity, she smiled and nodded her agreement "Mercy and I are getting married, not straight away" he held his hand up telling everyone "We want to finish University, tell the parents and everything first" he laughed nervously "We've been trying to tell them since we got here, but you guys have kept everyone busy, but if there's nothing else you guys want to share, we plan on doing that tonight"
"You have the floor, I promise" Mason laughed "Congratulations"
"She asked me actually" Sam told him taking the fist bump
"That's so romantic" Kitty smiled "Congratulations"
"Thanks" Mercy grinned "Finally" she breathed at Sam
"Finally?" Bree asked
"Yeah, we've been planning this for five months" Sam told her
"I feel like I want to shout it from the roof tops" Stacey told them "But I've learned first hand what it's like to share news that doesn't belong to me so" she made a motion of zipping her lips together
"Hopefully that's a lesson everyone's learned" Mercy laughed to nodding heads
They finished their brunch Stacey and Kitty spent the day hanging around the pool, sauna, steam room, Bree and Mason fell asleep watching movies before heading to the patio for more relaxation, while Sam and Mercy took to reading with music playing setting the mood for chilling in the background. Come late afternoon they were all sitting around the living room doing whatever they wanted to do, everyone felt free now everything was out on the table, they could kick back and just be friends and family like it should always have been. "My money, my body na ur own, it's that we all baddest.." came over the airways, the commentator telling them it was DaVido, Mercy jumped with excitement
"Oh" Mercy screeched "This is the guy that Dad had performing for us on Christmas day, remember this song?" she asked Sam "Come dance with me" she got up pulling Sam to get up "If I tell you say I love you o, my money, my body, na ur own o baby, thirty billions for the account o, yeh, Versace and Gucci for your body o baby, no do, no do, no do gararara for me o, ehh, no do, no do,, no do Senrere o, no do, no do, no do shakara owe, no do, No do, no do gararara for me o, ehh. Boy you're beautiful too, my number one tuntun, sip burukututu, for your love tutu, I go chook you chuku chuku o, biko obianuju, shey you do me juju, cos I'm feeling the juju.."
"I've never heard you speak the native tongue before, it's sexy" he laughed spinning her around as he watched her body move to the infectious beat
"He says the important bits in English" she smiled 'I love you I love, I love you I love you, I love you, I love you, there's nothing above you..." dancing around him as 'If' by DaVido played, everyone else had already got up to have a dance, they started passing partners around until they got back to their partners and things got intimate, interrupted by the bell ringing to tell them it was time for dinner "They must be back"
18:00
"How do I look?" Mercy stood in the mirror looking at Sam behind her
"I'm not answering that, it's a trick question" he laughed "Dad told me to avoid it"
"It's a simple question" she thinned her eyes at him
"I can show you how I feel about the way you look" he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him "Feel that?" he asked rubbing himself against her back, his head resting on her shoulder
"That good" she smiled, her left hand going up to stroke his exposed cheek, her eyes closing as he peppered kisses on her neck "That's definitely a zone" she moaned
"Note to Sam" he mumbled smiling as she turned to take more,
"What are you listening to?" she asked pulling one of the earphone out his ear and attaching it to hers, they stood listening to 'Day Dreaming' by Jack & Jack her lips attacking his neck while his hands wondered dangerously into the no go zone, they were in their own world, her hand slipped easily down the front of his trousers, he was in that mood, he let her.
I got vampire tendencies, biting your neck, sweat dripping down, while your hands on my chest, but I love it, and she love it too
Stars on my roof, we parked up on Mulholland, tell you the truth girl, I think that I'm falling, but I love it, and you love it too
"Merc" he moaned as her fingers touched his swollen skin, his voice protesting but his arms pulled her closer to him, she was determined to get him there "Mercy" he moaned as his body seemed to collapse in surrender to her touch
So pour up another drink now, cause I don't really wanna think, I just want you on me now, so I can feel your heartbeat, kiss me underneath the moonrise, shotgun in the Jeep, it's paradise just you and me, cause I'm daydreaming, dreaming, yeah I'm daydreaming, dreaming with you..
"We're getting carried away" he pulled away from her, pulling the music out his ear, his face red with want "Dinner"
"Really?" she rolled her eyes, seeing serious in his, she grabbed his hand and headed towards the door
"A minute" he pulled away from her, looking down at himself "I'll see you in the lounge"
"You'll see a lot more of me later" she warned, shutting the door behind her
The Lounge
"I wish we'd have booked for the week, five days just isn't enough" Bree told everyone just as Mercy walked into the room
"I think your Dad had to get back for some release date or something" Stacey told her
"Yeah, but he could have gone back alone" Bree laughed
"Maybe we should have gone in harder, demanded more time" Mason suggested
"We only got the extra day because there's some big meeting tomorrow, a merger or something" Stacey told them all
"How do I look?" Sam entered the room and walked over to Mercy smiling
"I'll answer that later" Mercy laughed as he grabbed hold of her across her shoulders
"Ready?" he asked "This is it" he turned her to face him "We're going to do this tonight"
"This is the right time" she looked up at him excited "Lets do this" she kissed him quickly "Ready everyone?"
"Let the show begin" Stacey linked arms with Kitty and Mercy, Mercy grabbed Bree's arm as they carried on walking towards the door
"You alright?" Mason asked Sam as they walked behind them
"I'm fine" he tapped his shoulder telling him "Never been more sure of anything in my life"
"I know that feeling" Mason smiled looking at Bree in front of him
Dinner
Everyone said their hello's as they entered the dining room, sitting at the table as usual with chatter and laughter going on, suddenly there was a bang on the table making all the cutlery jump "Today" King shouted "I would like to actually get through a whole dinner without a surprise announcement popping out the woodwork" he looked around the table "I don't think our nerves can take anymore, deprivation of food" he looked around the table "Anyone?" he asked
Sam grabbed Mercy's hand and looked up at her Dad, squeezing her hand before he stood up and cleared his throat "I'm sort of glad you asked Mr Jones" he told him coughing again "We have something we want you to know" he looked at his Dad before looking back at King "Mercy and I would like your permission to start dating, we've struck up a relationship since we first met and to be frank, we just want to stop talking behind everyone's back" he looked down at Mercy squeezing his hand and smiled "I don't think we're actually asking your permission, that's the wrong word, we're going to be together" he got braver as he felt her rubbing his hand "We just think this will work better if everyone knows about it"
"He's got some balls" King looked at Dwight telling him
"He's my son" Dwight replied smiling "To be honest, your Mom told me you guys had something going on, she could tell"
"You're not married already are you?" Clara asked
"No" Sam smiled looking at Stacey and Kitty
"God, she's not pregnant is she?" Mary gasped
"No" Sam told her "We haven't even... No" he rolled his eyes at their ridiculous and him exposing them
"Come on, it's not like she's leaving home" King told them laughing
"Actually Mr Jones, we're thinking of living together at some point, I have a steady income from my business, Mercy has the option of continuing her studies from anywhere in the world she wants, and we'd visit regularly"
"What?" King asked confused, looking around the table, dismissing the conversation when Clara started talking
"What about the arranged marriage?" Clara asked, she'd heard clearly what he was telling them and grabbed at that straw out of desperation, she wasn't ready for her daughter to fly the nest, Mary and Dwight looked at each other trying to stop the laugh from bursting out
"Hold up" Stacey couldn't help herself, even now the focus had to get back to her "I tell you about being married and Bree tells you about a baby and we get drawn out of the room and reprimanded and Sam tells you he'd actually, at some point, taking the princess out of the palace, and there's a reasonable conversation" she hissed "Which tells me it's alright for him to do whatever the hell he wants"
"Language lady" Mary hissed at her "You might be married, but I'm still your Mother"
"Sorry" she quickly replied knowing her Dad could get involved, and that would be ugly "But it's not fair"
"Well I guess, if you look back on the events of the past few days, this is the right way to do things" Steve noted, looking at Bree and Stacey as he spoke
"Anybody else" Dwight asked looking around the table to shaking heads "So King I believe we can maybe get something to eat now, if you're ready"
"Ready" king told him waving for the food to be served, he was dazed, sat taking in the fact that his daughter might actually love someone more than she loved him
"This has been a hell of a holiday" Kate shook her head giggling "You couldn't have put this stuff in a damn soap opera"
"Next year I think we'll go back to the traditional presents" Mary added laughing, watching the food being served
"We'll have a little present all to ourselves this time next year" Kate bragged looking at Bree, Bree looked at Mason there was a conversation to have there, but they'd promised Sam the floor was his tonight, so they were going to leave it
"So what are we doing tonight" Bree asked looking at Clara and Mercy
"Opera" Clara told her
"Opera?" Bree asked
"Yeah it'll be good" Clara smiled "It's actually something I've always wanted to see, with a clever twist"
"What is it?" Mercy asked, trying not to look excited because of Bree's response
"It's Carmen"
"That play with Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte" Kate asked
"Props for knowing that" Clara laughed "But no it's the remake of the Hip Hopera with Beyoncé and Mekhi Phifer for stage"
"What Beyoncé's on stage?" Mercy burst, she couldn't contain herself anymore
"Yes Beyoncé's on stage" Clara laughed "So hurry up and eat up, we need to get there for 9pm the latest"
"I'm done" Mercy dropped her fork and stood up "Everyone's done yeah?" she looked around the room
"Well I..." Bree looked at the pile of food still on her plate
"Bree will have that to go please Roz" Mercy looked across the room, everyone else getting up to follow her, even Mary and Kate
"I guess everyone's excited about tonight" Steve laughed getting up to follow his wife
"I'm determined to finish my dinner" King told them tucking in
21:00
It hadn't taken them half as long as they'd envisaged to get ready, everyone was in the small plane making the 40 minute flight across to Acca, for an evening of entertainment. Mercy was dancing almost from the start, she'd watched the movie a thousand times, and this hadn't veered far from it but the fact that all these stars were on stage in front of her was a real buzz.
Everyone was up clapping and cheering at the end of the show, no doubt it was good, even better when King brought them behind the scenes to meet the stars "King" Eddy Murphy smiled at seeing them come towards him "Great you could come out to see us, with the family as well" he smiled at them all behind him
"Doing the tour thing" King smiled taking the hand shake "Everyone's family" he turned to look at his party "Can they have a wonder round, meet some people?"
"Sure" Eddy stopped someone walking past "Bow, will you find someone to take these people around set, meet so of the other stars?" he asked
"I'll do it myself" Bow Wow told him taking them off, the night made complete when they got autographs from all the main cast