This Is The Right Time
The Palace
Day 6
01:00
East Wing
"So what do we do now?" Ryder asked, when they'd finally left the studio, after pretending King's decision didn't matter for the evening
"Plan A I suppose" Sam told him tapping his back "We'll get there, this was the first real shot"
"It wasn't even the right time" Mason told them "We're all finishing stuff off, got babies on the way, moving house, it wasn't the right time, maybe that swayed him"
"Or maybe we're just not as good as we think we are" Jake told them
"I don't agree with that" Joe looked at him "I think it's because Sam's in bed with his daughter"
"If that's what you think it is, I can always back out" Sam told him
"You'd back out?" Jake asked shocked "So where would the songs come from?"
"We all write" Sam told them
"But not like you" Ryder replied quickly "You can't back out, it's not an option"
"Plan A then?" Joe looked at his band members asking
"Plan A" they all agreed, sitting back to think about the day they'd had
"Shit's gonna hit the fan tomorrow" Mason told them all
"Double" Ryder laughed
"What's so special about tomorrow?" Sam lifted his head for a second asking
"Decision sharing day" Ryder told him
"Decision sharing?" Joe half smiled at Sugar, she nodded her head, giving the okay
Joe & Sugar
"Technically it's after midnight so I guess for us decision sharing day starts now" Joe pulled Sugar to him and kissed her forehead
"Please don't tell us you're pregnant or married" Marley rolled her eyes at them
"No" Sugar laughed "Nothing like that" she nervously grabbed Joe's hand "We've..." she looked up at him
"We've decided to call it a day on our relationship" Joe told everyone
"We still love each other, very much" Sugar assured them all "As friends" she quickly confirmed
"Yeah" Joe smiled "We've been drifting apart since we went off to Uni, I know we're only two hours away from each other, but we understand the signs"
"Signs?" Kitty asked
"Yeah, at first we were just busy with study, and we understood that, but then we were busy making friend, socialising and all that and somewhere in there we found ourselves avoiding each others calls, and stuff like that" he smiled at Sugar looking at him "We had a very hard, honest conversation this holiday and decided that being together in that way, wasn't what we wanted"
"I'm so sorry dude" Mason told him grabbing his shoulder
"No we're fine about it, honestly" Joe told him
"We just wanted to tell you guys together" Sugar told them "And there's more" she carried on before the questions started coming, looking at Joe
"Yeah" he stepped forward "My Uncle Vinny he's got me a spot in his department, it's very rare for people my age to get this kind of opportunity so... of course I'm jumping at it" he laughed "The only thing is, I'll be moving to New Haven on a kind of a permanent basis, so..." he looked around the room "Unless I get an extended holiday, or my parents get ill or something, I won't be back to Big Sur for the foreseeable"
"Seriously?" Sam asked
"What about the band?" Ryder asked
"What about us?" Mason asked
"Dude are you sure about this?" Jake walked towards him asking
"We've talked everything through" he looked at Sugar "We'll always love each other, I guess this is the test of our love"
"We think it's for the best" Sugar added
"The end of an era" Sam sat gripping Mercy's arm, wrapped loosely around his neck, him sat comfortably on the floor between her legs
"So I guess I'll wish you guys well with the music thing" he looked at Ryder "I hope you guys will remember me for my sexy voice and making you guys look good" he laughed
"One for the road" Stacey hugged him frowning, before grabbing hold of Sugar "He's the only one who's ever took my love for Star serious" she told everyone
"One for the road" he smiled as he started singing her 'Breathless' by Jude Demorest & Luke James "Yeah, oh yeah, oh, honey, why you looking like that, didn't I tell you I'd have you hooked, by the morning you'll be coming back, oh" pointing at Stacey to take the song, they went around the room picking each other to carry on the song until it finally came to an end "Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh" Jane finally sang, before bursting into laughter
"If you remember me for anything, it has to be that I finally got your brother's band to sing a Star song" Joe told her
"We'll all remember you, forever" Sugar told him
"You the most" he hugged her. Everyone stood watching what it was actually like to love someone enough to let them go, finally making their way to their own rooms, it was set to be a tough morning
Parents
"That was brutal" Steve told King once the children left
"I'll be honest, I expected Sam or Ryder to say something" Dwight added
"I didn't expect them to stay around that long after the way you treated them" Don laughed "He's never listened to me that long"
"They'll be listening to me tomorrow" King told his friends "We have work to do" he looked at Dwight
"Is this how our last night in Ghana's going to end?" Mary asked of Dwight, Don and Stevie
"Work" Dwight held his hands up at her, following King and the others though to the study
"What's this work?" Don sat down asking watching King press some buttons on his mobile
"Just getting the crew together" he told them smiling
"What, at this time of night?" Dwight asked looking at his watch
"Yeah" King smiled "We're setting Sam up with his own label, indie of course"
"Mary will want him to finish his study, she won't be up for this" Dwight told him
"It's on the premise that he finishes study" King told him
"Why a recording label?" Don asked "What's wrong with him just expanding his business?"
"In case you never noticed I have no son" King told them "If he chooses to marry my daughter, they'll get everything, and I mean, everything I have" he told them "I'm ready for that to happen yesterday" he looked at the men in front of him "But he needs to be ready for it, I don't want the likes of Snake coming in and running rough shod over him, he needs to know what this animal business is really all about" he sat down "His studio is in the middle of Big Sur, where his family own half the damn county, of course he's being treated with cotton gloves, he needs to get out there while we can protect him, wouldn't you want to protect him and see him build his dream?"
"Is it his dream though or yours?"
"The boy got you to buy him a damn studio at the age of 15, made you change your mind and send him to Julliard, sings like an angel, and writes a song an hour, are you really standing there telling me that music isn't his dream?"
"Maybe it is" Don told his brother in law
"Save argument" Stevie stepped in "Let's listen to what King's people have to say, and if it sounds alright, speak to Sam tomorrow morning"
So Kurt, Will, Finn and Noah turned up, there was lots of paperwork thrown around the table, even more technical talk, drinking, head scratching, and finally sighs of relief when there was an inkling of an agreement around the table. It was near 4am when Dwight smiled telling everyone he'd need to speak to Mary before breakfast and he suggested King do the same
"Was it me, or did I hear Sam say something about them living in America?" Don asked as they made for the door
"After they finish study I believe" King told him
"Are you sure about that?"
"Clara will know" he told them watching everyone leave before he stepped out the study and closed the door behind him, when he got to bed Clara was sleeping, he didn't bother to wake her up to ask
Sam & Mercy
02:00
"How are you really feeling about Joe leaving the band?" Mercy grabbed Sam's top pulling him to lean on her, while she rested on the closed door
"Sad I guess, as I said end of an era, I knew we'd all grow up soon, but this soon"
"Are you sure that's it?"
"That's it" he smiled "I've been quiet because I'm wondering if I'm being mean, wanting you to come to America instead of me staying here"
"Seriously?" she looked at him
"Yeah, I don't think I gave you the choice"
"You've known from day one I wanted to be in America" she giggled "Be warned, I won't be staying here with you, you can have this" she looked around "I want music, and I know Dad doesn't see that for me right now, but that's where I'm going"
"Are you sure?" he held her chin with his knuckled finger "I'm not forcing you to do stuff?"
"No way" she looked into his eyes "Do I look like I can be forced?" she laughed letting him pull her face towards his, and kiss her lips lightly
"You can force me to do anything, without even trying" he pulled her to him, pressing her against him, his hardness like steel against her stomach
"I'm not ready for bed" she pulled away from him and opened the door she'd been leaning on
"I am" he reached for her but she slipped out before he could stop her, he ended up following her out, they ended up in the studio "What are we doing in here?" he looked around the room
"Changing the scenery I guess" she smiled at him, looking around the very pink and purple room "Lights" she called bringing down the dim lighting
"Impressed" he smiled walking towards her
"Ah ah" she waved her finger at him "Work first" she touched some buttons on the mixers and lights appeared all over it "We're going to get that song recorded for Dad to hear, he's so going to regret saying no to you"
"Revenge" he smiled "I like it"
"Come on" she tapped some buttons on the system and the music to their song came through the speakers "We need to get more soul into your voice, I don't want him to have anything to say except sorry"
They sat for a while listening to the music, Sam trying to sound more soul than pop and then on take ten, he got it "Did I just get it?" he smiled at her
"You did, do it again" she sang the first few lines of the song with him, before they attempted their first take, eventually they both stood smiling at finishing the last note "That's it" she hugged him
"It didn't even sound like me" he laughed
"It will do" she left the booth to restart the music and walked to the back of the room towards the couch "Now we can.. play" she sat down smiling, watching him walk towards her past hungry as their song 'Lifetime' by Saeed & Ashly Williams was set to play on repeat. His knelt on the couch straggling her, lips touched hers giving off a surprising heat, his mind racing as she pulled him onto her, pressing against him with as much urgency as he was feeling, she let go of his lips and pressed her cheek against the side of his face to whisper in his ear "I need you"
"Talking sex" he moaned, watching her hair lift with his breath "Tell me what you want" he grabbed her hands off him and flung them up above her head
"Make me your fantasy" she grabbed his ear with her teeth and bit hard
He jerked his ear out of her mouth, stood up and pulled her up so hard she fell onto the mixer "Shit" he hissed searching for the button she'd pressed, he needed to turn the music down
"Are you alright?" she turned her head, looking at him with a smirk on her face "It's this one" she pointed at the button, watching him turn it down
"Turn back around" he smiled pushing her chest back against the buttons, his foot kicking her legs apart
"You want to take me from the back?" she turned again, he slapped her butt hard "Ouch" she giggled "That was actually..."
"Shush" he used his finger to turn her head back round, while his other hand snapped her panties off at the waist, she stood still waiting, not turning, while he looked at her exposed glistening core "I saw this in a movie once" he told her as his finger slid down her back and into her core, he smiled as she settled on it and wiggled with the pleasure
"Mmmm" she purred seconds before he removed his finger and replaced it with himself, banging into her as she yelled his muffled name through the roughness, his name soon turned to "Yes" then "Harder" and then inaudible sounds ending with her shouting at the top of her voice "I'm coming" her hand grabbed his hand, resting on her butt, and squeezed it hard, while her core pulsed around him
"I'm.." he got out before clenching her butt hard
"Sam" she panicked "Condom"
"Shit" he pulled out and watching his liquid spill over her butt "That was hot" he gasped, as they came to a breathless stop just before the second run of the song
"Who'd have known you'd take orders so well" she laughed
"I'm sure everyone heard you shouting about them" he laughed
"And we care because...?"
"We don't" he grabbed her hand, picked up the ripped panties off the floor, and left to get washed up and hopefully grab some sleep
07:00
"Morning" Jane walked into the lounge to see nearly everyone sitting around "Early birds or what?"
"Mission" Ryder told her while everyone else mumbled a response to her morning
"How's Sugar and Joe" she asked noticing they weren't there
"Not a peep since last night's announcement" Marley told her
"I thought that might have been them in the studio last night, rethinking" Jane smiled, Sam and Mercy avoided eye contact with anyone else
"Are we gonna pick straws for who goes first on this one?" Ryder asked
"Idea" Kitty got up to fetch pen and paper, sat writing all the names
"Morning" Sugar walked into the lounge with Joe behind her "Hard to think this is the last day we'll be sharing a bed together" she looked back at him "Sorry I've been a bit upset this morning" she wiped her eyes
The sigh in the room was heard as everyone felt their pain, it was a sad day, exciting for some, but inevitably, everyone was planning on leaving someone behind, and it was starting with them
"Pick a number" Kitty walked round with the bag of numbers "Okay, so now we know what's happening" they sat around for a while waiting for the final alarm to sound, everyone blowing air when it finally came
"This is it" Mercy told them all grabbing Sam's hand as they got up "Be brave" she told everyone, trying to hide just how scared she actually was
08:00
"Morning" Clara smiled at seeing everyone piling into the dining room "Last breakfast"
"Yeah" Stacey was the only one that found a response "It's been really great" she smiled at Clara "Thank you"
"It's been an absolute pleasure, we must do it again" Clara laughed, taking her daughters kiss "Come get something to eat before we go on our last trip together" her arms fanning everyone to sit down "Your parents are on their way" she sat watching them sit down "Everyone's quiet" she looked at them all one by one "Is this to do with yesterdays audition?"
"No I think it's because it's the last day" Bree smiled at her, looking at Mercy for telling her Mother a lie, rolling her eyes with relief as their parents very noisily came into the room
"Morning" King lead them into the room, Mom's taking kisses as they walked past their children to find their seats "I have an announcement for later" he frowned looking at Dwight as he spoke
"Roz" Clara called watching as the breakfast came into the room, today, unlike any other, it was trays full of traditional food "Try everything it's all good" her eyes wide for the beautiful colours. They were more than twenty minutes into eating before anyone started looking around the table, waiting for something to be said
"Number one" Mercy looked across the table at Ryder, shaking his head to tell them it wasn't him
No. 1 Mason & Bree
"It's us" Mason told them clearing his throat "We have an announcement" he squeezed Bree's hand under the table
"Yeah, we've made a decision, we're keeping the baby..."
"I didn't think anything different" Kate gasped holding her chest
"Nobody asked" Bree looked at her Mother "Actually I made a decision, which led to Mason making a decision" she told her parents "I also decided that I can only take orders from one man in my life" she smiled at her Dad "And Mason's going to be that man from now on" she looked at Mason telling him she'd finished
"And I'm informing you I guess, that we've decided Bree's coming over to Princeton to live, while I finish University, she can always jump back into her studies after the baby, if she choses to"
"So you think you're giving up on everything I've worked so hard to build for you?" Steve asked his daughter, ignoring everything they'd just said
"As I said Sir" Mason's voice firm "Bree won't be totally giving up on anything, she's taking time out to have our baby"
"Thank you Mason" Steve hissed through his teeth "But I was talking to my daughter"
"And I'm sorry Sir but..." he was stopped by the almighty bang on the table, everyone, including the food, jumped, this wasn't a man that was used to being told no
"Steve" Kate gasped at her husbands behaviour in their hosts house
"No Kate" he hissed at his wife "This fool's got her head in the fucking clouds, you know what young lady" he pointed at his daughter "You'll study until you can't, have your baby at home, with or without this fool" he pointed at Mason "And you will finish that damn course I put so much effort into getting set up for you"
"Dad" Bree got up and walked towards him, everyone thought she was brave getting that close to him, he was mad as hell "I'm doing what Mason said, he's my family now" she touched his chest and leaned up to whisper to him "And if you ever disrespect him like that again, you'll never see me or this baby again" she told him before landing back on her hells. They stood in what could only be termed as a stare off for a while, both trying to make out if the other actually meant what they were saying "You know I mean that" she squinted her eyes telling him
"Bree" he grabbed her arm as she went to walk away "You're my little girl"
"And you're my Daddy" she told him "But Mason's my person"
"I get that, but does this have to be so brutal?"
"It can be as good or as bad as you want it to be, I'm not saying I'll never see you again, and Mason isn't studying forever"
"Promise me you'll come home after he finishes?"
"That's up to Mason, Dad" she turned and moved away from him
"Bree" Kate called standing up to her daughter, Bree turned to look at her and burst into tears, falling into her Mom's arms "I understand, honestly I do" her Mom whispered in her ear "Be happy, Dad will come round"
Everyone sat watching this conversation take place, wondering if they had the nerve for it, if their parents were going to be even worse that Bree's Dad, Sam could see worse coming, but Roz was in Mercy's room right now packing her clothes, they'd gone as far as they could go without telling the parents anything. Ryder looked at Sam both shaking their heads determined not to be next
"Somebody please lighten the air" Kate wiped her tears
No. 2 Stacey & Kitty
"We decided to go ahead with that reception you talked about Mom" Stacey told her parents
"Oh" Mary half smiled, her mind was still on her sister "That's good"
"You could be a bit more enthusiastic about it" Stacey flung back at her
"I am" Mary's eyes like daggers at her daughter "Your Aunt's upset, or did you miss that?"
"She just asked someone to lighten the air didn't she?" Stacey snapped back at her
"Everything always has to be about you doesn't it?" Mary snapped at her
"Yes it has to be about me, for all the notice you ever take of me" Stacey stood up angry
"It's kind of hard not to listen to you" Kate huffed "Listen, I'm not having this conversation with you right now" she warned
"Well I'm having it..."
"Stacey" Dwight shouted grabbing her attention "Your Mom said not now, sit down"
"I'm not a child" she flung back at her Dad
"Stacey" Sam butted in shocked that she'd dared to carry on after their Dad had spoken
"What?" she asked her brother "I'm a married woman, I have a right to open my damn mouth" Sam was in gasp mode, his sister had gone mad "You weren't there for me when I needed you, I had to run to friends for help because my Mom was too busy saving the rest of the fucking world"
"Stacey" Sam got up and walked around the table to her, something was wrong "Calm down" he pulled her to him "What's the matter?"
"I'm number two Sam" she told him, he looked at Mercy and let his sister go, this was her truth, she'd have to deal with the fall out. She was crying, looking at Kitty, it seemed like she was the only one Stacey was going to stop this for "I was pregnant Mom, I had to go through an abortion on my own, with only friends to help me, and you know what hurts? friends realised something was wrong with me, before my loving, caring, Mother did"
"What?" Mary gasped
"I thought she was..." Stevie
"So did I" Dwight sat dazed listening to his daughters revelations
"When?" Mary asked
"It doesn't matter" Stacey screamed at her, Mary got up and made for her Daughter, not only was she telling her she was a bad mother for not knowing that her lesbian daughter somehow got pregnant by a man, but she was disrespecting her in the biggest way, she was about to slap her daughter's face off
"Mary" Dwight grabbed her, watching Stacey flinch at the reality of what was about to happen "Leave it" he held onto her, Mary was huffing with vexation "And you" he looked at Stacey "You want to be an adult, want to be a married woman, consider it done, you're on your own once we get back home" you could see the hurt in his eyes as he said the words, but even Sam knew Stacey had gone too far, he'd got a lot of talking to do when he got home to get her back into their good books
No. 3 Ryder & Jane
"Sorry Mom, Dad, this isn't much of the same, but as you might have guessed by now, this is D day for us, we've made plans, and todays the day to clear house, before the new years starts"
"For crying out loud" Linda held her head "I see what you mean" she looked at Kate
"Nothing as drastic as Stacey" he laughed
"Pregnant, secret marriage, affair, what?" Linda asked looking at Stevie
"None of the above" he laughed
"Although we did have a pregnancy scare a while back" Jane offered
"Yeah" he looked at Jane remembering that time in their lives "Learned us a few lessons" he kissed her lips lightly "We love Hollywood" he told his parents squeezing Jane's hand
"We love Big Sur too" Jane added
"Babe will you let me get this out?" he looked at her asking
"Sure go for it" she smiled
"We're planning on staying in Hollywood" he told his parents
"Well that's kind of stating the obvious, you've only just started studying up there" Linda laughed
"I mean after we finish studying, we want to live there, forever like" Ryder told them
"So what about the business?" Don asked his son
"We can get it managed, I might make it big enough to bring the club to those parts, Karaoke country music bars are popping up everywhere" he laughed
"Please don't tell me you think this is a joke" Don wiped the sweat off his forehead "These kids are really giving presents out today"
"Don't be so dramatic Dad" Ryder laughed "We're making decisions about our lives, is that a bad thing?"
"No sweetheart it isn't, it's just unexpected, you're all so young" Linda looked around the table "Some warning would have been nice"
"Mom, none of us stayed in Big Sur to study, surely that was a big enough warning?"
"Maybe it was, but we were so wrapped up in letting you go to University, I guess none of us thought past getting you there"
"Well we've had five months to live it, think about it and decide on it, and we're going to live there after we finish studying"
"You know what" Don pointed at his son "You're going to do what your going to do I know you" he waved his finger at him "But the business can't suffer"
"I wouldn't let it" Ryder told him
King
"I forgot what it was like living in the western world" King laughed sitting back in his chair "I guess now is a good a time as any" he looked at Dwight "We didn't give you the deal last night because, we thought you might want to send that song of yours out on your own label" he looked at Sam making it clear he was talking directly to him
"We don't have a label" Sam told him
"So that's where we come in" Dwight told his son "All you have to do is sign on the dotted line" he held the contract across the table in his son's face "There is a stipulation though"
"Stipulation like?" Sam asked
"Like you have to finished University before you can fully get involved in the label" King replied
"Go on" he looked at Mercy wondering what was happening
"That's it" King told him "Your parents agreed on that premise" looking at Mary and Dwight
"We did"
"So he has his own label, we can put out what we want?" Ryder asked excited
"Well I guess the first lesson is reputation, it has to precede you in this business, so if you get a rep for bashing out any old stuff it will come back to bite you, but if it's hit after hit, people will be flocking to get on your label"
"Sounds easy enough" Mason told them
"Well it's not" Sam told them "How long have we got before you expect to hear something from us"
"Twelve month, get some names behind you first, Don and Dwight are onto that"
"We can use some of the contacts from the studio" Sam told his Dad "I don't want to steal anyone though"
"The two businesses can run side by side if you want them to" Dwight told his son
"Do you want to do this?" Mary asked her son, aware everything was going fast right now
"Yeah, it's one of my dreams" he grabbed Mercy's hand and looked into her teary eyes, they weren't quite brave enough just yet to be showing PDA in front of her parents, but he could tell she was overwhelmed with what her Dad was offering right now "I'll sign whatever I need to" he looked at his Dad smiling, and knew everything had been checked, there was no way his parents were going to let him walk into anything dodgy
"So can we end this breakfast on this good note?" King asked looking around the table, before his eyes landed back on he signed contract sat in front of him
No. 4 Marley & Jake
"I think we're up next" Marley smiled at her Dad before looking around the room "I guess you've noticed I haven't been myself for a while, and that's because Jake and I were going through some stuff, I don't really want to share" she grabbed Jake's hand "But we're through it all now and well... we decided to try together" she looked at her Dad "I'm applying to Harold Ramis for the next semester, if I get in, we'll be based there"
"But I thought.." Linda looked at her daughter
"It's very important to me Mom, that's why we're willing to wait and see if I get in"
"And what if you don't get in?" Stevie asked his daughter
"Then as soon as I finish, I'm moving to Chicago because Jake's life is already mapped out up there, and I want to be where he is"
"But what about what you want to do?"
"Mom I can act from anywhere in the world" she laughed
"But you're so young, you're all so young" Linda looked around the table "It was only the other day I was wiping noses, kissing scraped knees and changing all your nappies" she frowned
"And I guess someday you'll have grandbabies to do all that for" Marley told her "From Ryder and Jane" she looked across at her brother "We just needed you guys to know our plans, that's all"
"And what do you say Jake?" Don asked him
"We made the decision together Sir, it's Marley's place to tell her parents, I still need to tell mine" he offered
"I guess I can't knock you guys for having a plan" he shrugged his shoulders, at least it wasn't as angry or insulting as, Stacey's revelation, Linda and Don looked at each other smiling, she'd have to get into Harold Ramis first and that in itself was hard enough
"So" Marley looked across at Sam "I guess that's us done"
No. 5 Mercy & Sam
"So that makes us the last ones" Sam sat up in his chair
"I don't think I can take anymore after Stacey's outburst" Mary warned
"It's not my floor" Sam told her smiling "It's Mercy's" he looked at her sitting beside him squeezing his hand hard "I'm behind you, whatever you choose to say"
"What the hell do you want now?" King rolled his eyes talking to his daughter "You wanted horses I got you three, a car I got you two, the east wing changed I did it, what the hell..."
"I don't want anything Daddy" she laughed
"So what can we do for you, young lady?" Clara smiled at her daughter
"I want you to let me go"
"Go where?"
"To America" she told them
"In a few months time, I guess we can do that" King told her
"No, I mean I want to go live with Sam in America"
"I suppose when you get married, that can be..."
"Dad" she huffed "I'm going back with them later, I'm packed"
"No you're not" he laughed nervously
"I am" she told him, Sam sat watching her put her spoilt brat chat on "So you can keep your visit in a few months, unless that's you guys coming to see us"
"Are you telling or asking?" King asked his daughter, this behaviour wasn't something her parents weren't used to, spoilt yes, but not rude
"I guess I'm..." she looked at Sam squeezing her hand trying to get her to calm down "Informing you" she looked at her Mom for help but found none
"Roz" he yelled, everyone watching as Roz ran into the room "Unpack her" he told the maid, turning to Mercy "You're going nowhere"
"If I have to walk out with nothing, so be it, but I am going Dad, I'd prefer to go with your blessing, but this is my destiny, my life, my choice"
"Clara speak to your child" King looked at his wife "I can't look at her right now"
"Well that's fine" Mercy got up and let go of Sam's hand "Because I can't look at you either"
"What do you mean by that?" King spun round to look at her
"Did you not think I was ever going to find out about your past, Daddy Blue" she hissed at him "Well I know, and from what I've read you have no reason for not looking at me, I'm a product of my Father after all" she walked across the room to him. She was angry yes, but this had something else behind it, Sam couldn't figure out what it was, but he could see this getting out of hand quick, now she was bringing up his past, he sat wishing he'd never brought it to her attention
"Mercy" he caught her attention and shook his head trying to get her to stop
"No Sam" she put her hand up at him "This is my truth"
"Truth?" King asked his daughter, laughing "You really don't know anything about the truth"
"Whatever you want to make this into, I'm going to America" Mercy told him, she was stood in front of him now, fronting up to him, she was doing this for love, if he got the chance to play with her emotions she might not be strong enough to leave, this had to get dirty for her to get her way
"Ha" he looked at Clara before looking back at his daughter
"King" Clara warned looking at Mary
"King, don't" Mary told him but everyone in the room could see this face off wasn't going to end with one of them backing down
"King" Dwight echoed, catching Sam's attention, something bigger was going on here
"The whole thing was arranged" he told her, the hurt in his face apparent as the last word came out, because now he knew it couldn't go back in, and he'd hurt the one thing in his life he'd vowed to protect
"What was arranged?" Mercy asked, still too mad to actually see what he was feeling through his eyes
"Christmas" Clara told her looking at king "Christmas was arranged" she looked at King waiting for him to back her up
Mercy wasn't having any of it, that wasn't sitting with her, she dismissed her Mother and looked back at her Dad "What was arranged Daddy?" she flung her hands on her hips and focused on him
"The introduction of you and Sam, it was planned" King told her closing his eyes not wanting to see the hurt in his daughter's face, the room gasping at the revelation
"You set us up?" Sam jumped up asking his parents
"It wasn't like..." Mary got out before Mercy exploded at her Dad
"How could you?" she hit his chest, he moved with the shove, but his hands grabbed after her, he needed to hug her, to stop the pain he knew she was in right now, so much so that was all she could come at him with, plus the look of disappointment in her eyes right now "Daddy how could you" she turned and ran out the room
"I thought Stacey was supposed to be the cruel one in this family?" Sam asked throwing his napkin on the table, before getting up to walk out, he needed to find Mercy
The Parents
"What the hell were you thinking?" Dwight asked King
"We were going to tell them anyway" King told him
"But not like that, in the middle of a damn family feud, with everyone here" Mary hissed "We didn't even get a chance to talk to Sam"
"I'm sorry, she just pressed all those old buttons, I thought I'd locked away" King told them slamming himself back in his chair
"I used to think she was like me" Clara grabbed her husband around his shoulder "But that girl is all you"
"I think that was the scary part" King huffed pulled her to him and hugged her back
"So after all that, you know she's leaving tonight?" Clara looked down at him asking
"There was hope before that bombshell, but yeah, I know" he pulled her head to his and kissed her forehead "Sorry"
"What are we going to say to Sam?" Mary asked Dwight
"I guess we've got a while to think about that, it's going to take time for him to talk to us again" Dwight told her
"I think next year we should go back to presents" Mary told them, watching as everyone burst out laughing
"I need to go find my baby girl" Clara let go of her husband telling him
"I'll come with you" Mary told her "I can only try she followed Clara out the door
"I need to go lay down" Linda told her husband getting up
"I just need to be anywhere else but in this room right now" Kate told them "I'm really disappointed in all of you" she told them before closing the door
"That used to work when I was a child" Bree told her cousins laughing "Come on lets go find Mercy and Sam
"I guess I need to go put her straight" King told Dwight, Dan and Stevie
"What you're still running with this?" Stevie asked him shocked "If Bree had done off like that at me, I'd be looking for ways to get back in her good books"
"She's my child, not the other way around" King told him walking towards the door following everyone else out
"On your head and all that" Don followed him nodding agreement with Stevie
"You were harsh" Dwight told him as they ventured around the house
Sam & Mercy
Sam was just as mad a Mercy when he left the dining room, he'd looked in several places before he thought of the studio and made his way back to the east wing, he pushed the door open slowly expecting crying but found her sitting on a stool, listening to his guitar demo and singing from her heart, he stood with the door cracked open listening to her sing 'Something Beautiful' by Mackenzie Thomas. He couldn't help thinking her voice was the most beautiful, raw, vocally perfect voice he'd ever heard, but she was telling him that this decision she was making was too hard for her, and maybe he needed to rethink what their next move was going to be, because he couldn't have her miserable in America with no family
"That was beautiful" he pushed the door wider as she came to the end of the song
"I heard the demo a while back and fell in love with the song" she looked at him revealing tears
"I'm sorry" he went towards her with his arms open for her to fall into "If I'd had any idea he was going to.."
"I don't care what he thinks" she looked up at him "We need solutions"
"What are you thinking?" he asked
"How dare he tell me what we have isn't real" she huffed "You?"
"That the jokes on them" he smiled "Because what we have is real"
"I'm just so mad that my parents could do this"
"You always knew you were having an arranged marriage"
"But you didn't... did you?"
"My parent know I'd never go for that, there must be a reason why this happened"
"I'm not ready to hear it, I never want to speak to any of them again"
"You will" he laughed "They're your parents"
"I'm leaving with you today, you know that right?"
"I hope you know that" he wrapped his arms around her "No matter what their story is, we know what we feel"
"Have I ever told you that I love you?" her head resting on his chest
"I don't think so" he frowned "Hold on, I might have heard it several times last night, between the howling and moaning" he laughed
"I'm sure it was a purr" she laughed reaching up to kiss his lips, moaning as he pulled her into him for a deeper kiss
The Conversations
"Here you are" Mary pushed the door open and walked in, jerking them out of their kiss "I know you guys probably don't want to hear it right now, but you know me, nothing else is happening until this is sorted" she told them. Mercy looked at Sam wondering if Mary was talking to her too
"Excuse me?" slipped out of her mouth before she realised Mary was going to be her second Mother, plus before that revelation in the dining room, they had a pretty good relationship going, she held her chest to suggest she was talking about something else
"It was planned by us yes, we accept that, but if you guys hadn't jelled nothing would have happened after America" she looked from one to the other "Sam you've always had fairy tale endings in your head, I knew there was never going to be a girl in Big Sur for you, I agreed for this meet cute to happen because I was thinking of you"
"I can't even say I don't believe that" Sam told her
"What happened to that other guy?" Mercy asked her Mom, aware she hadn't said a word since they'd walked in
"He actually hit a girl, and you know your Dad wasn't going for that" she told her "His family tried to hide it, but your Dad found out" she rolled her eyes at the memory "Apparently his Dad carried the same traits, so we scraped the deal" she huffed "We'd invested years into the boy. Your Dad went to a meeting with Dwight and saw Sam and Stacey, they talked and things started from there"
"We just wanted to protect you guys" Mary told them
"And yes" Clara looked at her daughter "We went about it the wrong way, but we had your best interest at heart"
"And to be honest, we might have gone about it the wrong way in there too, but we are leaving, together" Sam told them
"Hi" Ryder popped his head in the door "Your Dad was right" he smiled at Mercy "He said you'd be in here"
"He's got camera's all over the place, he doesn't have to guess" Mercy told him
"Not in here though?" Sam asked, thinking on what they'd got up to last night in there
"There are no camera's in this part of the house" Clara confirmed "I drew a line" she warned
"Here you are" King burst through the door with everyone else following him "Have you calmed down yet?" he knocked on the glass asking them
"Calmed down!" Mercy screeched "You were going to marry me off to some woman beater" she moaned
"We didn't know he was like that, not until Tania told us" he replied
"Tania?" Mercy's eyes widened "You mean Drew Dakubu?" her mouth stayed open after the words came out of it "That monster?" she laughed with shock "Dad, seriously, from now on I'll do the matchmaking if you don't mind"
"Heard and understood" King laughed "Look sweetheart" his tone change surprising everyone in the room, he sounded like he was about to beg, Stevie looked at Dwight smiling, the man had finally seen the seriousness of the situation "I'm sorry that came out the way it did, I was angry" he walked towards her, not caring that everyone else was in the room "You know I only ever want the very best for you"
"Sam's the best for me Dad" she rolled her eyes at him when he grabbed her shoulders
"It's just that you going back, just makes it feel like it was all for nothing..."
"It's about where Sam is, Dad" she told him
"I think I just realised that" he smiled "Forgive me for the way I acted earlier"
"Give us your blessing" she looked up at him asking
"You have my blessing, so long as we can visit when we want, stay over and you come home regularly"
"Deal" she smiled
"Deal" he agreed kissing her forehead
"Is that good enough for you?" she looked at Sam asking
"Yeah, I'm good" he giggled
"So I guess we leave tonight" she grabbed his hand, finally happy
"That only leaves us 14 hours to say goodbye" Clara, grabbed her daughter's hand telling her "I miss you already"
"Okay" Mary called order "We'll back off, won't we?" she looked Dwight asking
"Yeah" Dwight smiled
"We should do something together" Kate told them
"There's the Afro Nation festival down on Laboma Beach I was thinking" King told them "I have a few artists performing I was going to pass by later, but we could make a day of it, if you guys are interested?"
"Who's there?" Jake asked
"The usual, Wizkid, 6Black, DaVido, Buma Boy and some special guests" King replied, he said it casual but he knew they were more than interested in the line up "I could take you back stage have a look around and stuff"
"That would be amazing" Mason told him
"So say 1pm start then?" King looked around the room, smiling, glad he'd saved his relationship with his daughter
The morning spent trinket buying, memories of a well spent Christmas, everyone excited for the new changes ahead. They got to Laboma Beach and had lunch at a local sea food restaurant before heading over to celebrities quarters, meeting most of the artists King was involved with, there were a fair few R&B and two Pop singers they'd clapped eyes on inn passing. they sat back stage listening to warm ups, speeches and disagreements and then suddenly the evening drew in, the lights came up, the guards got thicker and the music started belting out, they stood at the barriers holding the fans away, but giving them exclusive access, along with a few others.
Time went fast soon it was nearing 10pm time for them to leave, they needed to get back to connect to their flight back home "Good evening" King's voice came over the mic, grabbing their attention "Hope everyone's having a good time" he called out to screams from the crowd "I just need a minute" he looked at his family stood wondering what was happening "To say, thank you to my guests over the holiday for making this season, this year such an... interesting one" he laughed "I guess the word for the year for me is family" he smiled at Sam stood with his arms hanging around Mercy's neck and his body flush against her back "Welcome, God bless, Good luck and... thank you" he smiled "I've asked for this especially for you guys" he held his hand out as the music started playing and an icon walked on stage singing 'Conversations In The Dark' by John Legend the noise was immense as John started singing, but soon everyone was swaying happy and in love. The mood quickly saddened as they stood watching Joe and Sugar obviously still saying their last goodbyes
"Thank you Dad" Mercy smiled hugging him "For everything"
"I need to thank you sweetheart" he hugged her smiling at her still feeling like his little girl "We heard you two singing in the studio the other night" he watched her head pop up to look at him "You sound really good together"
"We do everything really good together" she smiled up at him "I love him Daddy"
"I can see he loves you back baby girl" he squeezed her to him "It's time to go" he let her go turning to smile at Clara smiling at the sight of them together "We did well didn't we?" he looked at Mercy walking up to Sam and kissing him in front of them for the first time
"More than well, she's fantastic" Clara smiled walking toward him
"Suddenly, I'm not scared anymore" he grabbed his wife and hugged her "Come on guys"
Home Time
"Got everything?" Sam stood in the middle of Mercy's bedroom asking, he'd been watching her hand luggage getting more like another case for the past ten minutes, knowing she was nervous about the change "We can change the plan if you need to"
"No" she stopped walking around "I... are you sure about this?"
"Positive"
"We're going to be happy aren't we?"
"Yes"
"I'm so scared" she walked towards him "I've never known anything else" she looked around her bedroom, looking down as he grabbed hold of her hands
"We're going to get to know each other, really well" he smiled pulling her to him "We got this" he kissed her
"You make me feel like we got this" she reached up to kiss him back "Come on let's do this" she stepped away from him with a bit more confidence, making their way to the lounge
"Well I got it all out" they walked into the room listening to Stacey's statement
"Do you have somewhere else to live?" Sam asked her
"What do you mean?"
"You're on your own once we get back, was I the only one who heard that" he looked around the room asking, nodding heads confirming his interpretation "You better pray they're still paying for your accommodation at Uni" he warned "Brains" he pointed to his head
"So this is it, the end of an era" Mason told everyone
"It will be different next time we meet" Ryder added
"Princess, everything is ready" Roz's head popped round the door
"Come on" Mercy told everyone making her way to the door, the walk down the corridor was quiet, they got to the door to see the parents saying their goodbyes. Mercy and Sam stood watching her parents saying their goodbyes to everyone, suddenly there was just them there "Mom" Mercy burst out crying
"You can change your mind anytime" Clara told her
"I don't want to change my mind, I can miss my parents already can't I?" she asked
"Of course you can" Clara pulled her daughter to her, crying just as hard, both bursting into more tears when King wiped tears from his eyes
"Daddy" Mercy fell into his arms sobbing
"Princess" he squeezed her tight "Take care of her" he told Sam
"I will" he wiped his face telling his soon to be Father in law "I'm opening up my label close to Uni, so I guess I'll be seeing a lot of you I hope"
"A lot" King told him
"We better get going" Sam looked out at his family waiting on the bus "We'll call when we land" he looked at Mercy hugged Clara and King, grabbed his girls hand ad walked off toward the bus smiling "We did it" he kissed the back of her hand telling her
"Everything happens at the right time" Mercy looked up at him "And when I walked away..."
"I left footsteps in the mud so you could follow me" they sang smiling it was finally the right time, he wrapping his arm around her shoulder, ready for a new adventure.