A/N: I beet you didn't expect another chapter so quickly! lol! So... yeah it's.. just read it!

Song: Because You Loved Me- Celine Dion (Yes I went there! lol)


"Well, I for one am very happy that her hard work is paying off, she's so talented and we are actually moving things along with our-" Tank started before being interrupted by Mercedes

"WE are thinking about doing a collaborative album, you know like when Toni Braxton and Babyface did a few years back?" She said more loudly than intended.

"Is that right?" Her dad asked.

"No, it's not sir, what I've been trying to say is that I have asked Mercedes to mar-"

"Hey guys!" Monica said cutting Tank off with a devious smile and Mercedes let out an audible sigh of relief before standing up out of her seat and grabbing her phone and bag.

"Moma, daddy I'm sorry but I promised Sam I'd help is students so I need to be heading back." She said leaning over and hugging and kissing her parents.

"Sam? Sam Evans?" Claire asked perking up slightly and sharing a look with her husband.

"Yeah, you remember him right?" She asked innocently.

"Of course we remember him, he was such a sweetheart. How is he doing? You didn't tell me you two reconnected."

"Moma, I would hardly call me helping him with sectionals as us 'reconnecting' besides it's just for while I'm here." she replied trying to stifle the smile forming on her lips.

"Well you invite him over to dinner tonight, I would love to see him again." Claire said with Victor nodding his approval.

"Okay, I'll see if he's free. I'll see you all tonight. I love you." She said before grabbing Monica's hand and rushing out of the restaurant. Once they got outside and into the car she waited until for a few moments before turning to Monica.

"What are you up to Monica?" She asked looking at her assistant through narrowed eyes.

"What? Nothing, why do you always think I'm up to something?" Monica asked still looking down at her phone.

"So… how exactly did Sam come about getting your number to call to ask for my help with Sectionals?"

"I'm listed and seriously with technology there's plenty of ways to find someone's phone number. Give me some credit Cedes." Monica replied finally looking up at her boss and friend to see if she was buying it in the slightest and to her surprise she seemed to believe her.

"Oh. Will you be joining the afternoon practice?"

"Nah, I have a few fires to put out back home so I'll be going back to the hotel and since he's been invited to dinner I'm sure Sam can give you a ride back right?" She asked slyly.

"Yeah… that should be fine." She said absent mindlessly, if she was honest she wasn't sure if he would even want to come dinner but she really hoped he would.

"Mon?"

"What's up?"

"Do you think you could still love someone even after years of not being around or seeing them?"

"Well… I think it really depends."

"What do you mean?"

"It seriously depends on how they make you feel when you do seem them again. Like if there's a familiar feeling, something so hard to shake that when you feel it your breath catches and your heart races and slows down at the same time. I think it happens when you least expect it but you know because its a feeling of home and happiness, you know?" Mercedes knew exactly what she meant and knew she needed to face the music because there was a huge train hurling towards her and if she wasn't careful she was going to jump in front of it. They pulled up back at the school and she gave Monica a small smile before heading back to find Sam. She shot him a quick text letting him know she was back and waited for a response.

In my office doors open.

Sam was excited that she had came back and it was his free period so they could catch up. He had so many questions but knew he would need to ease into the heavy ones. He wanted to get to know her again, he could tell she wasn't the same as he remembered. When she walked in he couldn't help walking over to her and pulling her into a hug, when he felt her arms wrap around his waist he couldn't help but grin.

"So, how was lunch?" He asked pulling away and sitting down on his desk as she sat in the chair in front of him.

"It was… lunch." She said taking a deep breath and rolling her eyes.

"How are you're parents? I haven't seen them in a long time."

"They're still the same, they actually invited you to dinner tonight. If you're free that is..."

"Hmm… I can swing it. Were you ever going to tell me you're engaged?" He asked instantly regretting it. Her eyes grew large and she bit her lip then looked down at her ring less finger.

"Mercy?"

"Umm… I-I ahh.. honestly? No..." She said avoiding his beautiful green eyes because she knew if she looked at them she would start crying. She didn't even know if she wanted to be engaged and now she had to face the one person who knew her better than she did at times.

"Oh… why not?" He asked leaning down and lifting her face so he could see her eyes.

"Because… I just… wanted..." she said stammering her words. Sam held her face so she couldn't look away and she was getting lost in his stare and felt her breathing began to increase.

"Because you wanted what?" He asked in a deep husky voice that made her squirm in her seat. Her body still had the same reaction to his voice and she knew he could tell because he a sly smirk began to form on his beautiful lips that up until now she didn't know just how much she missed them on hers. She licked her lips just thinking about how soft and good they felt on hers when they would make out, she cleared her throat to help mask the moan that was trying damn hard to escape her mouth.

"I wanted to tell you when the time was right. I know we always promised to keep that line of communication open but after we stopped calling and texting I wasn't sure when I would be able to tell you and I wanted to do it in person. It was only fair that I did it that way." She said slowly backing up in her seat as he leaned in closer when she felt the back of the seat she knew she was trapped but she didn't look away from his eyes.

"Has he touched you?" He asked knowing the answer but he needed to hear her say it, he rubbed a finger on her cheek gently caressing her jawbone while holding her doe brown eyes with his green orbs.

"W-what? I.. don't umm..."

"Has. He. Touched. You?" He asked again this time his lips were so close to her she could feel his breath on her and felt a shiver shoot through her body causing her to moan.

"No, Sammy. We haven't… I haven't with anyone." She said softly. He smiled and ran his thumb across her bottom lip before licking his own. God she was so tempting and he wanted to bite that lip she kept raking through her own teeth.

"Are you happy with him?" He asked suddenly pulling away from her and taking a deep breath. He was moving too fast, he needed think with his head not his emotions.

"I believe so… he can be a little overwhelming at times but I think I am." She said tucking a loose curl behind her ear.

"I wouldn't want to marry someone on a maybe." He said bluntly before standing and grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the door.

"Where are we going?"

"A place where you can let your voice be heard." He said smirking and pulling her along with him. She started to smile as the walked down the familiar hallway bringing back happy memories of their high school days. She felt herself getting giddy about as they got closer to the auditorium and knew this was where the place she needed to be in that moment. It was just like Sam to do and say what she needed when she needed it, she missed that feeling. When they walked in he took her straight to the stage and looked at her deeply before walking off and sitting in the front row.

"Sing for me, sing whatever you want. Just shut out the outside world and sing." He said smiling. She nodded and turned around taking a deep breath, it had be so long since she was up there singing and now she was back a didn't know what to sing. All that time fighting Rachael for a solo, all that time swaying in the back until it was time for her to belt out the final note and when she finally got that call she knew she was destined for the life she always wanted and he had given her the confidence to chase her dreams. She turned and smiled as she looked at Sam waiting patiently for her to begin, she knew what song she wanted to sing.

For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful, baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through through it all

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cause you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand, I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cause you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you

You were-

Mercedes felt herself being pulled and before she could finish, she felt Sam's lips crashing into hers. Every feeling she ever had for Sam came rushing back and her heart was screaming so loudly, she felt herself melting into his embrace. He was holding her so tightly like he was afraid she was going to float away, she wrapped her hands around his neck deepening their kiss. Damn his lips still felt so good. She fought hard to keep the moan from coming out but it came anyway and made her come back to reality. What the hell girl!

"Uh- uh, don't you dare pull away from me." Sam said pulling her back to him and kissing her again. He missed how soft her lips were, how nice she felt wrapped in his arms. Stop, she's engaged! If you press this now, you'll repeat what happened in high school. His mind was yelling at him to stop but damn if it didn't feel good to be kissing Mercedes again. He knew he needed to stop and reluctantly pulled away.

"I'm sorry Mercy, I shouldn't have done that especially with you… you know." He said rubbing the back of his neck.

"No, I shouldn't have let it happen. It's just lately… my head has been so foggy about everything in my life and then out of the blue you call me and it's just…" She replied breathing deeply and looking away. Mercedes' mind went clear the second she kissed him and knew exactly what it was causing her to be so foggy.

"Just what?" Sam asked turning her around to look at him. She looked at him and placed her hand on his cheek, gently caressing it and giving him a weak smile.

"Things are very complicated for me right now." She replied biting her lip nervously.

"What's wrong Mercy? You know you can tell me anything."

"No, I used to be able to tell you everything. Hell I barely know you anymore and I just kissed you without even considering if you had a girlfriend, fiance or wife and kids. I'm not Mercy anymore, I'm different… I'm not who you think I am Sam." She said backing away.

"You can still tell me Mercedes and if you want to get know me again we can do that but I'm still Sam. I'm still me baby and as for the girlfriend, fiance or wife and kids, I don't have either. It's just me and an adorably old dog, sure I've dated but I'm not now."

"Don't call me baby, my fiance won't like that." She said halfheartedly and with a deep sigh. She wanted him to call her baby forever but she knew Tank and if were there and heard him call her that it would be a big shit show. She looked at him and saw the hurt in his eyes and wanted so badly to comfort him and scream she didn't know if she wanted to be engaged at least not to Tank and that if he even felt an ounce of what she did to fight for her but that wouldn't be fair. She said yes and at the time she meant it but she couldn't have if just let herself get swooped up into a very wanted and needed kiss from Sam.

"Oh, I'm sorry about that, I make that mistake again." He said curtly. He was overstepping and knew she didn't need this distraction. He wasn't going to stand in her way and he wasn't going to force his self on her either.

"Sam..."

"No, this is all too familiar and I don't want to you to have to go through that again, I apologize for overstepping the way I did. Friends?" He asked with a half smile.

"Friends." She said nonchalantly and looked down at her hands before he pulled her into a hug. She looked up at him and saw his eyes searching hers deeply and felt hers doing the same. His hand gently caressed her jaw and before he could pull away she wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him into a deep kiss. She needed this closeness, she needed to be held and she wanted her Sammy and she didn't care how it looked. She felt herself getting lost in him and not wanting to let go, she kissed him harder ignoring her need to breath. Feeling his tongue flick her bottom lip caused her to moan and open her mouth to allow him full access, she missed his taste and how well he made her want more of it. Damn, he still kisses so damn good. She slowly dropped her hands from his neck to his broad shoulder and down to his very toned biceps gently squeezing them. She let out a soft groan as her hands slide down his chest and she could feel his abs under the soft fabric. Sweet baby Jesus, he feels so good. Stop while you're ahead girl.

"Mercy, we need to stop. This is getting a little..." Sam said trailing off looking at the hunger in her eyes. She nodded licking her lips and taking a deep breath.

"Yes. Umm maybe I should sit out this practice?" she said with a nervous giggle.

"Oh, I'm canceling practice. I have something I want to show you." He said with a small smile.

"Uh… what?"

"Don't worry, I'll have you in home for dinner. I don't care how old I get Poppa Jones will always scare the hell out of me." He said with a low laugh causing her to laugh too.

"Come on, let me grab my things and then we can go."


Sooooooo!What we thinking? I know them kissing happened a little fast but trust me the drama is coming babies but not before a few more sweet moments between Sam and Mercedes! I hoped you enjoyed this chapter and review if you feel the need to do so! Thanks!