A/N: Hey readers!

It's time for an update! Yay!

Did you all like the Samcedes scene in this week's episode of Glee? I had a smile on my face every time they were together on screen. #GleeSamcedesLoveStillAlive? :)

Hope you enjoy!

"Okay, so let's go over the song one more time." Sam said. He reached his hand out towards the IPod to restart the instrumental version of the song they were going to perform.

Mercedes sighed with a chuckle. "Geez, Sam. We've already practiced singing the song ten times, and each time has been great." She said as she sat down on the couch at Sam's house.

They were rehearsing for their duet which they would be performing in a few days.

"I know, Mercy. But since we made a few changes, I want to make sure I remember everything," Sam said.

"Well, can we at least take a small break to rest our vocal cords? It's important for us to make sure we don't overdo it during practice. Isn't that right, Quarterback?" Mercedes asked with a smirk.

Sam nodded and chuckled. "Yeah, you're right." He said as he turned off his IPod and headed for the kitchen.

From her spot on the couch, Mercedes tilted her head back and closed her eyes to rest for a moment.

She hasn't been sleeping very much within the last few days, which is likely a result of the nightmares she's been having. No longer being constantly haunted by the memories of her dead relatives was the only good thing about her lack of sleep.

As she opened her eyes, she saw the family portrait that hung on the wall above the fireplace. The Evans' smiling faces were very reminiscent of the Jones'. A smile formed on Mercedes' face, one of both happiness and sadness.

Sam re-entered the living room, holding two bottles of water. "Is warm water okay?" He asked.

Mercedes smiled and nodded. "Yes, I prefer it when I'm trying to maintain my singing voice. Thanks."

"I thought you'd say that," he said before giving her the water bottle and sitting down next to her on the couch.

They both took a few sips.

"I think we chose a great song, Mercedes." Sam said.

She smiled. "Yeah, me too. It's been one of my favorites for years. And you can never go wrong with a classic."

Sam agreed. "You're right." He considered their fellow glee club members. "I wonder what songs the others picked. Not that they'll be better than us," he said cockily. "But still, it'll be interesting to see some of those pairs."

Mercedes put down her water bottle on the coffee table. "Speaking of pairs, how was it working with me this week?" She asked while smiling.

Sam looked at her. "You mean you have to ask?"

Mercedes giggled. "I guess not."

Sam nodded. "Exactly," he looked at her as he drank another sip of water. He smirked and placed the drink next to hers. "I couldn't have had a better partner."

She smiled. "Neither could I."

"I mean it, Mercedes." Sam said. "Singing in public is new for me. I don't feel like I know what I'm doing. Instead it's like I've been doing my own thing."

"But, you've been doing great. If you've been 'doing your own thing' so far, you're even more awesome than I thought." Mercedes said.

For a moment, Sam was speechless. Soon, he spoke again. "…You think I'm awesome?"

Mercedes closed her eyes as she realized what she'd said. Although she did mean it, she did not mean to say it to Sam. She looked at him. Smiling, she said, "Of course I do."

Sam blushed. "You are too," he said honestly.

She smiled back before yawning slightly.

Sam noticed. "You've been yawning a lot lately. Tired, huh?"

Mercedes shook her head. "No, I just…," she considered telling Sam about her lack of sleep. "…well…" She knew that he was the best person to talk to. He understands her. "…I haven't been sleeping often, as of lately."

Sam looked at her. He had an idea of why it was that she was not able to sleep, but he asked anyway, hoping he was wrong. "Why?"

She was honest. "…I have been having nightmares about the accident." She said slowly before she continued. "They're intense. And so real, it feels like I'm there. In the beginning, I assumed that all of the nightmares would go away. I thought it was normal because it was all still so fresh. My family and I were grieving." She said. "When are things going to change?" She asked rhetorically.

Sam was quiet for a while. "I wish I knew what to say."

She gave him a small smile. "You've already done so much by listening to me." She said.

He pulled her closer to him and wrapped his arm around her. "I'm always here for you, Mercedes."

She nodded. "Thanks, Sam."

He smiled.

She remembered that he wanted to practice the song again. She grabbed his hand. "Okay, let's get back to singing." She said as she stood up, bringing him up with her.

He chuckled. "Alright," he said before he turned the IPod back on.

On Friday, Sam is headed for the choir room after school. Eager to show-off his performance with Mercedes, he smiled as he walked down the hallway. Not only was he confident in them performing as a pair, but because of Mercedes' kind words, he was feeling more confident about himself as a singer. He knew that they were going to be awesome.

As he turned around the corner, he saw Mercedes standing in front of the choir room door. She wasn't alone.

Sam scowled as he saw Joe Hart talking to Mercedes. A conversation between Joe and Mercedes wasn't a problem for Sam, but Sam did have a problem with how close the dreadlocked boy was to Mercedes, literally. He stood directly in front of her, and he touched her good arm several times with a small squeeze as they smiled while speaking.

He continued walking, heading towards the pair.

They embraced in a hug before Joe entered the room.

Mercedes turned and saw Sam approaching her. "Hey, you," she said with a smile.

Sam smiled back. "Hey. I was hoping I'd get a chance to talk to you before practice."

"Sure, what's up?" She asked.

"I wanted to say thanks again for…everything." He said sincerely. "Mercedes, before this week, I felt like I didn't know a thing about singing in general, much less singing along with other people and performing in front of a crowd. I finally feel like a member of this group, and that's because of you."

Mercedes knew about Sam's lack of confidence regarding glee club, and she was happy that he no longer felt that way. "Sam…" She hugged him. "…you're awesome." She held his face in her hand. "You ARE a member of this group. Okay?"

He smiled and nodded. Suddenly, he remembered something that he wanted to ask Mercedes. "Oh, do you mind if we sing first today?"

"Still excited, I see." She said with a chuckle.

He smirked. "What can I say? I enjoy singing with you."

"Well, same here," she said.

They were interrupted as the bell rang.

They rolled their eyes with a groan and laughed before walking inside of the room.

"Alright, everyone, I want to make an announcement before we get started." Mr. Schue said.

The students quieted down before Mr. Schuester began speaking again.

"I want us all to give a round of applause for our newest member of 'New Directions,' Joe Hart."

Everyone clapped and cheered for the teen boy.

Joe smiled. "Thanks, everyone," he said as he stood up from his chair. "You are such a talented group. I hope to make you all proud as a part of this show choir."

The other students and Mr. Schue continued clapping as he sat down again.

Quinn, who was seated next to Joe, clapped without care and her facial expression was also uncaring.

"So, how are all of our wonderful duos?" Mr. Schue asked.

"Ugh, can you say 'I'm so glad it's over?'" Santana asked. "Berry, over here, is the worst person I could have ever had as a partner."

Rachel gasped in shock. "Santana, what are you talking about? We went with all of your ideas."

"Yeah, but that didn't stop you from 'suggesting' yours over and over again. You never shut up!" Santana said.

Rachel sighed and shook her head.

"Well, I'm sure that, at the very least, you both learned a lesson from the experience." Mr. Schue said.

"Mike and I had a lot of fun working together. I swear, he was like made for dancing, and I like dancing too. So our performance is going to be full of energy," Blaine said.

Mr. Schue smiled. "Okay, great. That's what I like to hear."

"All I know is," Puck began as he grabbed Artie's right shoulder. "Artie and I are going to be amazing." They gave one another a high-five. "You're going down, losers!"

The other students began playfully booing as a few near Puck pushed him.

Mr. Schue laughed. "Okay, everyone, since you all seem to be ready, let's get started." He said. "Which of our duos would like to go first?"

Sam raised his hand. "Mercedes and I, Mr. Schue," Sam said.

The teacher smiled. "Mercedes, Sam, the floor is yours."

The two teens smiled at each other.

They stood up and then they went over to speak with the band players. After they told the guys the song they'd be singing, they walked over and stood in the center of the room.

Mercedes glanced at Sam as he began speaking.

"We decided to go with a classic song about love," he said with a smile and glanced at Mercedes.

The band began playing the music.

Sam:

"My love,

there's only you in my life.

The only thing that's bright."

He sang as he turned around to look at her.

Mercedes:

"My first love,

you're every breath that I take.

You're every step I make."

She turned to face him as well.

Sam:

"And I…"

Mercedes:

"…I-I-I-I-I…"

They slowly began walking towards each other.

Sam:

"…I want to share…"

Sam and Mercedes:

"…all my love with you."

Sam smiled before he began singing again.

Sam:

"No one else will do."

Mercedes smiled as well.

Mercedes:

"And your eyes…"

Sam:

"…your eyes, your eyes…"

Sam and Mercedes:

"…they tell me how much you care."

Sam and Mercedes sang in unison.

Sam and Mercedes:

"Ooh yes,

you will always be…"

They held hands.

Sam and Mercedes:

"…my endless love."

The duo continued singing together as they looked deeply into each other's eyes.

Sam and Mercedes:

"Two hearts,

two hearts that beat as one.

Our lives have just begun."

Mercedes caressed his arms.

Mercedes:

"Forever…"

Sam:

"…ohhh…"

Mercedes and Sam:

"…I'll hold you close in my arms.

I can't resist your charms."

Mercedes:

"And love,"

Sam put his hands on her hips.

Sam:

"oh, love,"

They began to sing together again.

Mercedes and Sam:

"I'll be a fool…

…for you."

"I'm sure…"

Mercedes:

"You know I don't mind,"

Sam:

"Oh, you know I don't mind."

Their faces moved closer and closer together, until they were only slightly away from each other.

Mercedes and Sam:

"'cause you,

you mean the world to me.

Oh,"

Mercedes:

"I know,"

Sam:

"I know,"

Mercedes and Sam:

"I've found in you…

…my endless love."

Sam:

"Oooh, woow."

They smiled and hummed happily together.

Sam and Mercedes:

"Bom, bom.

Bom, bom, bom, bom, bom, bom.

Bom, bom, bom, bom, bom."

Sam and Mercedes:

"Oooh, and love,"

Sam:

"oh, love,"

They intertwined their fingers.

Sam and Mercedes:

"I'll be that fool…

…for you,

I'm sure."

Mercedes:

"You know I don't mind…"

Mercedes and Sam:

"…oh, you know I don't mind."

They leaned their foreheads against one another.

Sam and Mercedes:

"And, yes,

you'll be the only one,

'cause no one can deny

this love I have inside.

And I'll give it all to you,"

Sam had the urge to kiss her.

Sam:

"my love,"

Mercedes wanted to kiss him as well.

Mercedes:

"my love, my love,"

Their lips were longing to touch.

Sam and Mercedes:

"…my endless love."

Sam and Mercedes kissed.

They closed their eyes. Sam put his arms around her waist and Mercedes put her good arm around his shoulders. The kiss got deeper as Sam sought to enter his tongue into Mercedes' mouth. She granted him access by slightly opening her mouth.

They were in a world of their own.

Sam was totally unable to stop himself as he continued to slowly kiss the shorter girl. From the moment he first met Mercedes, he wondered what it would be like to kiss her. Now that he was doing just that, he could not have been more pleased.

Mercedes enjoyed the kiss, mainly because of how perfect Sam's lips felt against her own. He seemed to be an expert in the art of kissing.

Suddenly, realization swept over her, the realization that she and Sam were kissing, and during glee club practice.

Slowly, she pulled her lips away from his as she held his cheek in her hand.

They inhaled and exhaled deeply and continued looking at each other.

Eventually, Sam and Mercedes faced Mr. Schue and all of the other glee club members. They were now holding hands.

Mr. Schuester spoke. "Well…you two…you were excellent." He started clapping.

Everyone else clapped as well.

Sam smiled as he continued thinking about the kiss.

Mercedes' thoughts were forming rapidly, making it difficult for her to think clearly. She wanted to leave.

She started walking over to the door.

Sam saw her leaving. "Mercedes," he called out her name.

Mercedes did not know what to say, so she turned around to look at him and gave him a smile before turning back around and leaving the room.

A/N: Song used in this chapter:

"Endless Love" by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross