A/N: as a Mercedes Stan (I seriously loved her since the pilot episode) I can honestly say that glee did one thing right: she got into UCLA and got a recording contract. So yeah… awesomeness for Mercedes, I was disappointed on how open ended they left Samcedes but… I guess I can wait until season 4 to get extra angry. Anyway, chapter 4…

After school Sam was seriously contemplating on just walking to his job because his father phoned him and told him he got called into work early. So he had no truck to go to work and there's was no one around the school for miles. Sam exhaled and got up off the steps preparing to walk to work. "Yeah... I'll get there at fucking 8o' clock." Sam kicked the dirt as he walked on the sides of the road.

"I should've just gone with Finn." Sam said to the ground. Finn saw Sam sitting on the steps after school and politely asked him if he needed a lift Sam shrugged and said "no" thinking that his father was going to pick him up. Sam wanted to punch something as he kept on walking.

Mercedes finally got out of school after the end of the God Squad's meeting. She walked downstairs to her huge Ford Explorer and threw her bag in the back. She was so ready to go home, take a bath and read a book. "Maybe The Hunger Games?" Mercedes thought to herself. She turned her key and then put on the radio. Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" came bursting through the speakers and Mercedes turned it up and started to get her sing on. She had her windows rolled down as she belted the final bridge.

Sam turned his head once he heard someone singing coming up the road. The familiar voice sang Adele's song as well as Adele would herself. Mercedes stopped at the light and saw Sam looking at her through the glass.

"Mercedes?" Sam yelled.

"Sam?" Mercedes moved her car over to the side of the road so that traffic could pass her if there was any.

"Sam? What are you doing walking the roads?" Mercedes asked.

"I figure I would walk to work... Get some exercise." Sam lied. But telling her "I'm walking to work because my dad left me in front of the school like an abandoned child on prom night" just didn't seem like the right thing to say. Mercedes caught on quickly to his little game, after his eyes refused to meet her gaze. Sam couldn't bring himself to look her in the eye. Not just because he had a sex dream about her, but more like he thought she would give him the "poor baby" look that he hated. He didn't want anyone's pity. Especially not her.

"Do you need a lift Sam?" Mercedes asked him ever so humbly.

"No... I don't. Like I said I'm just gonna walk so you can go on..." Sam stuck his hands into his tight black jeans and looked towards the ground.

Mercedes shook her head. Apart of her knew he wasn't accepting her offer because of his own male hubris. "Boys" Mercedes thought to herself. But there were no cars around for miles and she was not about to leave Sam there alone. No matter how much he didn't like it. "Get in Sam." Mercedes said. Sam said nothing in return. He just kept trying to focus on anything other than Mercedes. "Now!" she said with a more demanding tone. Sam didn't want too- I mean he really didn't. But he needed to get to work and with Mercedes driving him he could get there before his shift even starts. He went over to the passenger's side and climbed in.

"Thank you..." he said to her once he got settled in.

"You're welcome Sam." she smiled towards him and as usual he refused to look into her eyes. They rode in silence for a while and Sam kept staring at her when he thought she wasn't looking. Mercedes couldn't believe it but she was actually starting to become angry.

"Did I do something to offend you?" she asks with a hint of anger in her voice. The car came to a screeching halt at least 20 blocks away from Sam's job and Mercedes refused to move it. She crossed her arms at him waiting for an answer.

Sam looks up abruptly and immediately says "no... Of course not. Why?"

"Because every time I look at you, you look down. Is there a problem you have with me? I know y'all white folks like the whole silent anger thing but in my family if you got a problem with someone you address it."

Sam was unsure of what to say at that moment. He refused to tell her "I can't look at you because I'm having dreams about you and I and it's confusing and exciting at the same time." No matter what Quinn yelled to him, he couldn't or wouldn't say that but he couldn't sit there silent either. A moment passed while he tried to find the right to say.

Finally he settled on "I'm just exhausted. With my job and school and being homeless... everything. It's gets to me sometimes. Sorry." Mercedes felt like such a douche for actually believing that Sam could have a problem with her.

She started the car once again and began going back down the road. After sometime Mercedes finally mustered up enough courage to say something. "Sorry I flipped out on you Sam, I would blame it on lady hormones but you'll probably see right through that."

"Actually I wouldn't. I'm not that smart." she laughed at him and he blushed. Sam never noticed how beautiful her laugh was before. It was sweet and gentle, "just like in my dreams" Sam thought out loud.

"What?" Mercedes asked giving him a confused look. "What the hell did he just say?"

"What?" Sam repeated trying to cover his tracks.

"You said something... About dreams?" she told him as the car came to a simple stop in front of Sam's work place.

"Nope I don't think I did..." Sam tried to cover his tracks, Mercedes just shrugged.

Sam unbuckled himself from his seat then looked at his watch. He made it to work with at least 25 minutes to spare. "Nice driving Miss Jones." he said to her. For a moment he forgot he was avoiding her gaze and he finally looked right into her eyes. She was no longer smiling but her eyes seemed like they were. Her eyelashes flickered up and down, as she looked back at him. "Thank you Sam. " she said. She put her hand on his shoulder and took out a pen and paper. She wrote something on the top of it then ripped it off and handed it to Sam. "that's my number." he gave her a look waiting for her to make sense. "Sam I know we're not particularly friends or even acquaintances, and whatever happens to your family is between you and god but, I figured if you ever needed somebody to talk to... Or just to take you places you can ask me. I'm not saying I'll be your chauffer or maid or whatever I'm just saying I can be a helping hand if you ever needed one."

He looked into her eyes and searched for any sign of pity or that "poor little charity case" looks people usually gives him and his family. Fortunately the only thing he found in her eyes was sincerity and humility. Again he looked at the note and gave her a crooked side smile. "Thanks Mercedes I appreciate It." he said

"No problem. And don't lose that, cause if you do I definitely won't be giving my number to you again." her hand slided off of his shoulder gently and Sam felt himself release a breath he didn't know that he was holding in.

"Well I should go, before I get written up for being late. Thanks again." he hopped out of the car and started walking towards his job. Mercedes watched him walk away then drove off. Sam sat on the bench and took out the phone number that was burning a hole in his back pocket. He took out his phone entered her number. He sat there trying to figure out what to put her under.

"Mercedes?" Sam thought. "No that's too plain." Sam had everyone who was in the Glee Club under a funny name in his phone. Yeah it was kinda lame but it made Sam laugh every time they called or texted him. Finn was under "Frankenteen", Quinn was "Blondie" because that's what they called each other while they were dating and it kinda just stuck, Santana was under "Tits Magee" Sam had to admit that the greatest thing about Santana besides her beautiful singing voice was her nice plastic chest. She had a terrible attitude and was kinda a bitch but at least she had those two things going for her.

Even puck had one. Sam had it under "PuckiNator" just because it made him laugh but puck found out and changed it to "sex shark" Sam didn't care even if it was weird.

"Santana calls her wheezy... And Aretha." Sam took those thoughts out of his mind. If Mercedes found out she were in his phone under wheezy she would never speak to him again. And after today Sam was sure that wasn't an option. A light bulb went off in Sam's head, he finally figured out what he was going to save it as. He entered it and it read: future wife. Sam shut his phone off and put it in his back pocket. As he walked into work he had no idea that he was smiling.

Sam got home late in the night and like always everyone was sleeping. He took a shower, brushed his teeth and prayed. He laid down on the couch looking up towards the ceiling thinking about his day. Sam tried his best to only focus on the good things that happened.

"Glee club was fun." Sam thought.

"Mercedes looked pretty today."

"Is it bad that I want Artie to stay far away from Mercedes? Why does she want to duet with him so bad anyway?"

"Mercedes gave me her number... I got her number!"

"Her car is so sweet... Just like her." Sam interrupted his own thoughts and sat up. Every single good thing that happened to him today somehow involved Mercedes. It was like she was taking over every thought he had. What was even weirder was that Sam liked it. He closed his eyes and flopped back down.

"Sam! Sam don't you fall asleep on me!" Sam woke up in another dream. This time it seems like he was on the phone with someone.

"Samuel Evans I swear to god if you're sleeping I'm never calling you again." the voice said.

"I'm... I'm here." he said back. It was a woman on the phone but it wasn't Mercedes. Sam knew her voice and it sounded nothing like hers.

"Good." she said. "I was worried that you had fallen asleep on me baby."

Oh god- Sam thought. He looked at the iPhone that was attached to his face and read the name it read "Emma".

Yep Sam was having yet another cheating dream. At least this time she wasn't naked in his bedroom. "thank baby jesus for small favors" he thought.

"Babe... Are you there?" she asked.

"Yes. I am." Sam says back.

"So tell me is your wife home?"

Sam looked around the room and saw no sign of anyone.

"No... I guess she's not." Sam sighed. He was actually looking forward to a Mercedes dream, instead he got this bullshit.

"That's great news because guess what?"

"What?" Sam said dryly.

"I'm not wearing anything right now... And I'm touching myself thinking about you." Sam should've been turned on by her smoky voice and her sexy comments but his thing was particularly soft and showed no sign of life anytime soon.

"Can I call you back later? I'm really tired." Sam hung up before she could answer. He got off the bed and curiosity got the best of him as he started to look around the room. He went over to the dresser and opened it. The first draw was nightshirts and PJ's, simple bedroom wear. The second dresser was full of bra and panty sets. Sam raided them. It was a beautiful range of leather and lace. Obviously his wife had spectacular taste and Sam wondered if he was ever going to have a dream where he sampled the rainbow one that smelled like cotton candy at a county fair. He closed the draws and then began to look at pictures.

There were pictures of him and Mercedes everywhere. One of them two at what seemed like an award show. "The Grammy's" Sam said out loud. "I was at the freaking Grammy's!"

There was another of them with Rachel and Finn at some event. Finn had facial hair and Rachel got highlights. There was another with all of New Directions. It said "happy 5th year reunion" everyone was smiling. Quinn had a huge ring on her finger, puck looked weary. Brittany and Santana looked like they were very happy, Tina was pregnant and Mercedes was sitting in Sam's lap as he smiled wide. Sam smiled at the fact that new directions still got together. Even if it was for a stupid reunion. All the other pics were of them in cars or hugged up in a Christmas photo. But one caught Sam's eye. It was a picture of them two at a park kissing. What surprised him is that they looked young- like teenagers. Sam had his long hair and he was holding Mercedes close as they kissed. It was obvious someone else was taking the picture. Sam took the glass frame from the dresser and stared at the pic for a while. Suddenly a thought came into his mind. Something Mercedes said to him in his very first dream he had about her "you fell in love with me Sam." shit... Sam thought. "I fall in love with Mercedes." he said it like it was finally sinking in. Sam gets out of his head when he hears a click of a lock at the door. Mercedes walks up the stairs and opens it. Sam looks up at her smiling, picture still in his hand.

"I see you're here." Mercedes said in a nasty tone.

Sam wondered why she was being so rude to him. "What?" he asked

"Nothing… Can you please leave! I need to get ready for bed." Mercedes didn't have one happy look on her face.

"I thought we were married..." he fished.

"We are." she said

"Then why can't I see you undress? It's not like it's anything I haven't seen before."

"You nasty pervert. You and me just had a two hour-long phone-text fight and now you want to see me naked? Like I told you over the phone you're never seeing these goodies again!" Mercedes yelled.

"What did I do now?" Sam said fully exasperated.

"Really Sam? If domestic abuse wasn't a crime I'd punch you right now." Mercedes went into the bathroom and slammed the door. Sam went to the bed and picked up his phone. Mercedes said they were arguing over text maybe he could find something there. He had 4 missed calls from that Emma woman and ignored them all. He went to his texts and looked at the ones under "wife."

Sam: I can't believe you are really planning on staying in Canada on our anniversary. You can cancel those dates Mercedes this is about us.

Wife: no this is about YOU and your selfish ways. I need to promote my new album Sam. I can't promote it if I don't do what the studio tells me! You used to understand this, but NO when you got your record deal and everything was Sam Evans 24/7 and did I bitch and moan like you do? No I freaking supported you even when that Emma bitch kept saying it wasn't good enough! Ugh I swear-

Sam: Emma... Was only trying to push me to becoming better which I did. She believes in me. Like you used to. I wish you were more like her. Sam smacked himself on the head he couldn't believe he texted that to her.

Wife: are you fucking serious? All I do is support you. You like Emma so damn much maybe she should be your wife then. Lord knows how you like em' : blonde, skinny and dumber than a box of nails.

Sam: I'm so tired of your shit mercy. Seriously, I'm done. I'm the dude in this marriage and I'm trying to make days for us to be together. But if I'm not a priority in "Mercedes' world" anymore please tell me... I'll be out of your life.

Wife: whatever Sam. Are you sure you're just a singer? Because I believe you were born for the stage. In fact I forgot is your middle name dramatic?

Sam: pick up your phone... This isn't getting anywhere through text.

Wife: No. And No.

Sam: you drive me crazy...

After that last text message Mercedes never replied back. Sam threw his phone. They were fighting over small stuff. He had seen it before when his mom and dad would fight over the littlest things like mail. But they would always work it out in the end. Sam sat there and looked at the picture of them again. They looked so happy. Sam was happy with her, he had to be happy once if he asked her to marry him and she said yes. They were happy, so why cheat? Mindless bickering couldn't be the only problem... Was it? What happened that Sam went over and cheated with this Emma woman? "I need to know." Sam said to himself. Mercedes came out of the bathroom in nothing but a black lace bra and panties. Completely ignoring how he watched her body, She climbed in the bed, put the covers over herself and slipped on her sleep mask.

Sam smiled at her obvious annoyance with him. Future Sam may not like it but present Sam would lie if he said he wasn't turned on by the way she was ignoring him. He got under the same covers and moved close to her.

"If this is some kind of four play... I'm totally into it." he whispered in her ear.

"It isn't. Now move far away from me cause the only thing you'll be playing with tonight is yourself." she turned over to her side and turned off the lights. Sam ignored her request and rubbed his cock against her butt. Mercedes unknowingly moved against him, liking it, but only for a second. She removed herself from the bed and began to walk out. "Where are you going?" he asked

"Guest room. And the door will be locked so you can't try and make me not hate you."

"Look, it was a silly fight..." he tapped the bed and licked his lips at the sight of her holding onto her hips. "Come back over here and let's work our frustrations out... The adult way."

"Sam we haven't had sex in a 8 months. And the tension your feeling between us, isn't sexual. It's just plain tension. Now goodnight." Mercedes walked out and slammed the door.

Sam flopped down on the bed and looked at his sad erection. "Poor general." he said to it.

There was so much going on Sam didn't know how to digest it. His iPhone buzzed it was a text from Emma: I miss you... It read.

"Oh god." Sam once again threw his phone down. And he closed his eyes.

He woke up in the motel at 2:30 in the morning. His phone was buzzing repeatedly. It was a text from Quinn.

The subject line said: DO NOT READ UNTIL MORNING. Sam ignored it and opened it anyway.

It read; Blondie: Have any good dreams lately? ;).