A/N: I was going to update this yesterday but after those pics of scruffy chord came out I died… but I'm okay now. Oh like always if you don't like how this plays out just tell me.

P.s. did I mention next chapter will be the last? :(

Sam was having the greatest week of his existence. Yeah that's saying a lot but for Sam it was proving to be true. Firstly, after that horrible dream he had last week, the dreams seemed to stop. No longer did he dream about Mercedes, Emma, being married or otherwise, and honestly Sam felt relieved. Like a huge weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. Besides, Sam had the present to worry about. Because, after his and Mercedes hallway rendezvous, they had a conversation about their relationship. They both admitted they wanted to take it slow, so Mercedes suggested no telling the glee club or anybody else and no labels. Sam didn't like the idea because he wanted to flaunt her around and show everyone just how lucky he was, but he agreed anyway. They also both agreed that they wanted to tell their parents. Mercedes never lied to her parents, neither did Sam, so Sam went over to her house that weekend and Mercedes introduced him to her parents. Sam only met them once or twice at parent teacher conferences but they never really engaged until last Saturday. Sam shuddered at the memory of the conversation he had with her father.

Mercedes opened the door and saw him standing there in a nice black long sleeve shirt and black pants that could pass for dressy if you didn't look at them too hard. She hugged his neck and Sam brought her close to him and wrapped his arms around her waist. He loved when she hugged him because she smelled so good and Sam could never get enough of the mixture of scents she wore.
She kissed him chastely and then whispered in his ear, "you look great"

"not as good as you." he replied effortlessly. It was so easy to compliment his woman, one because she always looked stunning and two because she never fished for it. Quinn would always fish for compliments when they dated. Saying things like "don't I look good, and aren't I beautiful?" Sam personally hated when she did that. It was like she didn't love herself enough to know that she was incredibly beautiful without even trying. Mercedes was different, she owned her sexiness and her body and if he were being honest, it made Sam want her even more. Sam was starting to love the feeling of contentment with Mercedes. She was just everything he wanted, had and needed.

Mercedes took his hand and brought him into the kitchen. Her mom was bending over near the oven and Sam could smell she was making something delicious. Her dad was at the table with a book in his hand and his glasses half on his face reading intently.

"Mama, daddy." Mercedes said, getting their attention.

Her father looked up at her and her mom closed the oven and turned around. They both stared at Sam like he was transparent.

"Mamma... Daddy this is Sam. And we are... Dating." Mercedes figured it would be best to just rip the band aid off. Her parents always hated when she talked around a subject.

Angela Jones came up to the couple and wiped her hands on her apron before giving Sam the tightest hug that he ever gotten.

"So you're the boy who took my baby to prom?" she asked with a smile.

"Yes ma'am. That would be me. Sam, I am..." she laughed at him and then hugged him again.

"Our mercy hasn't stopped talking about you since then!" her mom admitted. Sam looked down to Mercedes and she was blushing while looking away.

"Mama..." Mercedes whined. She couldn't believe her mom just admitted that in front of Sam.

"Oh please mercy! Don't act like it's not the truth..."

"Mom! Can we please, talk about anything else...?" Mercedes pleaded

Mercedes' mom motioned Sam to sit at the table and Mercedes sat next to him. Sam looked across from her father and noticed he hadn't said one word to him since Mercedes introduced him. He just looked up from his book and saw Sam and then went back to reading. When he finally spoke it wasn't to Sam. "Annie honey is the food almost ready? I'm gettin hungry."

Angela went over to him and kissed his head. "Almost sweetheart, almost."

He buried his face in his book once more and that's when Mercedes spoke up.

"Daddy... Aren't you gonna say hi to Sam?" Mercedes didn't mean for it to come out the way it did but when she said it, it sounded kinda nasty.

Her father looked up from his book and stared into Sam's eyes, before looking back at Mercedes then ultimately looking back into his book.

Mercedes was now feeling the anger stirring inside of her. Sam came into her house with absolutely no disrespect and all her father was showing him was the cold shoulder.

"DADDY! What is wrong with you? Why won't you talk to Sam? Or at least say hello?" Mercedes was screaming at him. Sam took her hand trying to calm her and said, "Mercedes its ok..."

"NO Sam! It isn't!" a very vehement Mercedes threw her napkin on her plate and stormed upstairs. Angela turned off the stove and gave her husband a look before running up after her. Leaving Sam and Mercedes' father alone at the table.

Sam tapped his hands against the table and that's when her father looked up at him.

"Your name it's, Samuel... Right?"

"Yes sir, but you can call me Sam." he smiled and thought that maybe they were finally getting somewhere.

"No. I'll be calling you Samuel." her father took his book and closed it, and took of his glasses and put them on the table.

"Sir... If I may say something..." Sam started. But he was cut off by her father.

"No. You don't need to say anything. You're gonna sit there and just listen, Cause I'm gonna make this short and sweet. Understood?" Sam nodded accordingly and waited for him to continue.

"I don't like you." he stated bluntly. Sam opened his mouth again but her father cut him off once more.

"Before you say anything, no... It has nothing to do with your race, or the fact that you have the biggest lips I have ever seen on a child of your race. I don't like you simply, because I know my baby is too good for you."

"I don't refute that sir, but..."

"But nothing. I don't like you Samuel. But my daughter does. And that's all that matters. All you teenage boys are the same... heartbreakers. But understand this, you will not break my child's heart, and if I find out you hurt her in any way, shape or form..."

"Let me guess, you'll come after me right?" Sam said smiling, trying to lighten the mood.

"Who said it had to be me?" her father stood up and was ready to leave, taking his book and glasses. He turned to Sam to say one last thing.

"I'm not a believer in running the guys my baby dates away... No matter how bad I wanted to kill Noah. But you listen to me, Mercedes is going places. All the way to the top... And I don't want anything deterring her from her dreams. Even you, so do we understand each other Samuel?"

"Loud and clear Mr. Jones. But you should know I would never in any situation have mercy choose me over her aspirations. She's too amazing for me to let that happen."

"Good." Mercedes' father left the kitchen, leaving Sam there all alone.

The rest of that night was a blur in the back of Sam's mind. He did remember eating great food and Mercedes giving him a ride back to his motel, then her kissing him in a way that Sam could swear he felt all the way down in his toes. But the rest faded in the background, the fact was he met her family. Except her brother and Mercedes told him that she wanted to hold off their meeting for as long as possible. Luckily for Sam the day Mercedes met his parents was way better than the dinner with the Joneses.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Sam asked her.

"Yeah. I Am, besides it's gotta be better than the night you met my parents right?"

"Yeah... I guess you're right."

He kissed the outside of her hand and then they interlocked fingers and walked into his motel room. It was the one moment throughout the week that Sam knew all of his family members would be at home. He opened the door and walked her to the kitchenette where they were all listening to Sam's dad play his guitar.

"Hey everyone!" Sam said to them all. His dad stopped playing the guitar and hugged Sam. Mercedes stood there as they embraced and smiled. She loved that they loved each other so much, despite everything that was going on. Stacy noticing Mercedes runs over and hugs her leg.

"Cede! Cede! What are you doing here?" she asked while looking up at her.

Sam's mother Mary came over to Mercedes and practically peeled Stacy off of her before asking, "Sam... What is she doing here?"

Sam and his dad released and Sam went over and grabbed Mercedes' hand again. "I have an announcement to make and I wanted you all here so I could tell you all at once."

"What is it Sammy?" Stevie asked

"Mercedes and I... We are dating... And I wanted you all to know."

Mercedes smiled as Sam kissed her hand in front of his siblings and parents. His father looked at the both of them with a stern face before getting up and standing right in front of them.

He stared at Sam for what seemed like forever before saying; "well it's about time!" he grabbed them both and hugged them together. The kids ran over to them and crowded around their legs and hugged them too. Sam's mom clapped her hands lightly before telling them both congratulations.

The night went on and the Evan's family welcomed Mercedes liked they known her for years. Mercedes only wished that her father could've returned the same compassion that his family gave her. They played games; Sam and his dad busted out the guitar again and sung some old rock and country songs. Then it was time to go, and Sam drove her home. Then there were the kisses again. Those damn toe curling kisses that she didn't even know she did to him. Their connection was something else; it was out of this world amazing. And Sam was sure, now more than ever that he never wanted whatever he was feeling was to end.

He remembered having a conversation with his mom that same night about Mercedes.

"So... You and Mercedes..." his mom fished while cleaning some dishes.

"Yep. Look mom; before you start on her just hear me out..." Sam knew his mom was about to give him 'the talk' the same talk she had given him about Quinn. His mom liked Quinn a lot, but she told Sam not to fall too hard for her, stupidly Sam did and now all he lived with was regrets. But Mercedes wasn't Quinn and he needed her to know that.

His mom cut him off and simply said, "You be good to her Sam. Alright?"

Sam was shocked that she didn't go into her usual expertly thought out drabble that normally took up 30 minutes of his life. It was just one line, one simple line.
Sam smiled and nodded. "Yes mom." he replied. She came over and kissed his blonde head before going to bed.

On Monday, Sam hadn't seen his lady all day. In the morning they exchanged cute and flirty texts but reality seemed to set in for Sam when he realized that they were a secret. He couldn't kiss her in the hallway or hold her hand between classes. But it's the way she wanted it to be, and Sam had to be ok with that. Now it was time for history class and Sam metaphorical threw his fist in the air because he knew he would finally be able to at least see her. Mercedes sat down two seats across from him and then class started. Sam wasn't paying any attention to the teacher whatsoever because he was too busy staring at Mercedes. Mercedes looked over at him, noticing he was staring. She shook her head, smiled and then secretly took out her phone.

Sam noticed she was texting and that's when his phone buzzed.

Future wife:why are you staring at me?

He quickly texted her back and said,

Sam:because you're the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. He looked up to see her blushing and smiling wide as she texted back.

Future wife:you are so corny sometimes, you know that?

Sam:yeah... But you like it ;).

Future wife: maybe I do...

Sam:I guarantee you do... I... I miss you. He looked up at her after he texted that and she looked back at him and smiled before rolling her eyes and replying,

Future wife:we saw each other on Saturday... What is there to miss?

Sam eyes quirked up and as he prepared his response.

Sam: let's see, your beautiful eyes, those beautiful beyond kissable lips, your beautiful body, that beautiful round... backside ;)

Mercedes put her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. The teacher noticed this and asked, "Miss Jones is everything alright?"

"Yes Mrs. Warren. Everything's fine." the teacher went back to the lesson and Mercedes finally texted back.

Future wife: Sam Evans, you are absolutely crazy.

Sam:crazy about you...

Mercedes looked up once more and saw him giving her his signature crooked smile. She flipped her hair and smiled back. Then she sent him one last text before closing her phone.

Future wife:I feel the same way ;)... see you in glee club. Xoxoxo.

Sam knew now that his day wasn't gonna be so bad. 'Nope not bad at all' Sam thought.

Upon hearing of Sue's sister death all of the glee club banned together for her funeral. Mercedes didn't know why but funerals made her particularly sad. Sam noticed this throughout the whole ceremony and especially after the song they all sang together. Sam wanted to just wrap his arms around her in front of everyone and hold her until she no longer felt any pain, and knowing that he couldn't, made him angry. After the funeral was over Sam, Quinn, Tina and Mike were all standing outside. Tina said she had to go and mike and her ran off, leaving Sam there with a very distraught Quinn.

"Quinn you okay?" Sam asked. She looked hurt, sad and angry all at once.

"Why? You don't care! Nobody does." she spat.

"Quinn what's wrong? Why are you so angry?"

"Because of boys like you and Finn!" she yelled at him.

"I'm not following... How are Finn and I similar?"

"You both have a nag for making me fall for you then breaking my heart that's how!" she pushed him back away from her, and then she started crying right there near the side of the church. Sam came back up to her and wrapped his arms away around her. Quinn cried into his chest.

"He broke up with me! I can't believe he broke up with me!" she sobbed to Sam.

Mercedes came out of the funeral with Kurt. She stood there watching Sam hug Quinn tight as she laid her head against his chest. What she was feeling came suddenly, without warning. The big green monster was rearing its ugly head: jealously. She loved Quinn and she knew she would never hurt her, but Quinn didn't know about her and Sam... Whatever they were. As far as anybody knew Sam was a free man. Mercedes cursed herself for wanting to keep them private, but she was doing it for both their benefit. At least that's what she kept telling herself before she went to sleep at night.

"It was only a matter of time..." Kurt said

"what are you talking about?" Mercedes asked not taking her eyes off of Sam and Quinn.

"Before those two got back together. Finn told me he was gonna break up with her because he's totally in love with Rachel its pathetic, but I had no idea that she would run to Sam that fast. I thought she'd at least give it a week or two." Kurt shrugged his shoulders and then grabbed Mercedes' arm. When she didn't budge Kurt said,

"Diva..." he called to her.

"Yeah?" she said finally taking her eyes off of the scene in front of her.

"You coming?" Kurt asked.

"Oh yeah... Yeah I am." Mercedes and Kurt walked pass Quinn and Sam and Sam looked up and quickly saw Mercedes' expression. He released Quinn and then called out to her.

"Mercedes!" Sam yelled.

Mercedes and Kurt turned around and saw Sam and Quinn catching up to them.

"Sam... Quinn, can I help you?" Mercedes said nonchalantly.

"Well Finn left me here, and I was hoping you could give me a ride?" Quinn said.

"Sure Q! Of course." Mercedes smiled at her.

"Uhmm... Can you give me one two? My dad has to work so he left with the car." Sam said.

"Sure Sam. Why not." she said so dryly that dust could've came out her mouth.

Sam smiled at her but Mercedes wasn't meeting his gaze. Quinn looked at Sam then Mercedes and wondered what the hell was going on.

"Well... I called shotgun for life in mercy's car so you both are just gonna have to deal with it." Kurt said.

Quinn and Mercedes laughed and then locked arms as they walked to the car. They all got in, Kurt in the passenger seat, and Sam and Quinn in the back. Mercedes dropped off Kurt first and then Sam got out of the car and to take shotgun. They drove in utter silence before Sam made his move to hold her hand while she was driving. She subtlety yanked it away hoping Quinn didn't see his gesture. Sam fell back against his seat in anger and looked out the window. Silence crept between them once more before Quinn said something.

"You guys wanna tell me what's going on between you two?" she asked.

Mercedes looked in her mirror at Quinn and answered "nothing is going on between us, nothing at all."

Sam scoffed hard and mumbled something under his breath. Mercedes noticed and asked, "What was that Sam? Did you say something?"

At that Sam sat up in his seat and looked her in the face. "Yeah I said what is your problem?"

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me! What is your problem? Why are you being so cold to me?"

"Sam I have no idea what you're talking about, so just drop it okay?" she said motioning to him that Quinn was still in the car.

"I don't care if Quinn knows! I don't care who knows! I want to know why you're being so distant. What did I do?"

"Umm... Guys" Quinn tried to interject but was cut off by Mercedes.

"Nothing Sam! Everything is fine. You did nothing."

"Guys..." Quinn tried again.

"This is about me hugging Quinn isn't it? Jesus Mercy it was a hug!"

"It's not about that Sam! Just drop it!"

"GUYS!"Quinn now yelled. The car stopped in front of Quinn's house.

"What?" they yelled in unison.

"This is my stop." she smiled and hopped out of the car. She wanted no part in the rest of that conversation. Even if they were fighting because of her. Quinn couldn't handle anymore drama today.

Mercedes began driving again and then stopped once they reached Sam's motel.
Sam unbuckled his seat belt and then said, "Babe, I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing? I'm the one who got jealous for nothing. I mean it was just a hug and here I am thinking all kinds of crazy scenarios."

" I'm sorry for yelling at you. Quinn was sad cause Finn and her broke up, and I was just trying to comfort her."

"I know that now and I'm sorry for being so cold to you. I guess I'm not as secure with myself as I initially thought." she laughed a little and then put her head down.

"Hey... We all have our moments." he took his hand and put it to her chin bringing her face up to his.

"Yeah right... Like you would ever have a reason to be jealous"

"are you kidding me?" Sam laughed. "Every time Artie looks at you nowadays I want to go all hulk on him and pick him up by the wheelchair while saying "Mercy mine! Sam smash!"

Mercedes let out a huge bout out laughter and Sam laughed too.

"You're crazy..." she reiterated her words from earlier. Sam moved closer to her so that their lips were grazing. Whispering In her mouth he said, "Like I said... I'm crazy about you." he kissed her two times chastely, before pulling away.

"Oh no you don't Evans!" she grabbed his shirt with both hands and pulled him in for a passionate tongue kiss. Sam put his big hands on her cheeks and returned her kiss with as much passion as she was giving him. They parted slightly coming up for air before kissing again. His tongue practically devoured hers and she didn't mind it at all. He kissed her until all of her watermelon lips gloss was off of her beautiful lips. After they were done they just sat they breathing in each other's breath.

"Do you have any idea what you do to me?" Sam said in a very low voice. He couldn't even open his eyes yet, this woman had him under her spell.

"I think I might have some clues..." she kissed him again before telling him to go. He got out of the car and kissed her through the window before she jetted off. 'No... Sam, she doesn't have any clue the full extent of what she does to you." he said to himself smiling.

Sam got in late and went straight to the couch. He was so happy and content with his life right now that nothing could rain on his parade. Mercedes was his, he had a family that loved him and friends that he hoped would be in his life forever. So what, he was homeless. That seemed like a distance factoid to Sam now, Mercedes didn't care, she wanted him for who he was and she will never know just how much that means to him. Sam closed his eyes not worrying about any dreams since he stopped having them anyway. Soon enough Sam was in a deep, comfortable sleep.

Sam woke up surrounded by those damn white sheets and he started to panic. For a whole week he hadn't been having any dreams whatsoever and now he was, which only meant more drama.

He looked over to Mercedes, who was still sleeping in the bed. And Sam was thankful that at least it wasn't an Emma dream. She started to stir and then she turned over and looked into his eyes.

"Hey beautiful..." he said. She didn't answer she just got up from the bed and picked her dress up off the floor. She began to get dressed and Sam was wondering where she was going.

"Where you going?" he asked grabbing her hand and pulling her back down on the bed.

"Sam... Stop." she pushed herself off of him and tried to yank her hand away.

"Stop? Why do I have to stop...? All's I'm doing is kissing my beautiful wife." he kissed on her neck and down to her collarbone and that's when Mercedes pushed him off of her hard.

"I'm not your wife Sam." she looked around the room for her heels. She found one in the hamper and the other was nowhere to be found.

"What do you mean you're not my wife? We're married after all." what the hell was she saying? Not his wife?Sam thought.

"I mean I'm not you're wife. At least not anymore. Come on Sam... Don't you remember? We signed those beautiful divorce papers a year and a half ago." Mercedes finally found her other shoe. She went over to the bed to put them on.

Sam was shocked by what he heard. In the end they got a divorce. He was disappointed in his future self for not fighting for her. But that still didn't explain how they ended up in bed together.

"so if were divorced, why did you wake up in my bed?"

"Well I see someone doesn't remember calling me, saying that 'there's no one to spend my birthday with mercy... Please come spend my birthday with me."

"So you came? Why?"

"Because it was your birthday and you sounded lonely. I found you lying on the couch with glass of scotch in your hand. It took four cups of coffee and three bottles of water before you were ok again... You don't remember this?"

Sam shook his head. Mercedes shrugged and said, "Figures..." she finished putting her shoes on and then began looking for her necklace. Thankfully it was right on the night stand.

"Did we... Did we umm..." Sam began.

"Did we fuck? Have sex? Bump uglies?" she laughed.

Sam nodded. "Yes Sam. We did. Only because you kept telling me that the only thing you wanted for your birthday was me. So I figured what the hell... I haven't had sex in almost three years, and as much as I hate to admit it, you're still the best sex I ever had."

She was struggling to get her necklace all the way on; Sam crawled over to her and hooked it for her. His hands lingered on her shoulders before moving away.

"Well I have to be at the studio in an hour. So I guess I'll see you around?" she smiled simply.

"Mercedes, I'm sorry." Sam said.

"For what?" she laughed.

"For hurting you. Turning you into this..."

"Turning me into what?" she asked with a growing attitude.

"You look like you're devoid of any emotion, like you care about nothing. And I know, it's my fault."

"Sam who the hell do you think you are? You have no right to judge who I am. You lost any right to speak about me when you cheated on me with Emma."

"I'm sorry. That's all I can say, I'm sorry."

"Whatever Sam, you're a day late and about two years short on that apology." She turned to walk out of the door when Sam pulled her around back towards him and said, "Please don't go..."

Sam woke up and immediately dialed her number. It was 2am but he didn't care. He wanted to hear her voice. She answered groggily and said "Sam? Is there something wrong?"

"No there isn't... It's just; I had a bad dream that's all..."

"Aww poor baby. Well I'm here if you need Me." silence crept between them before she said, "What do you need Sam?"

"I just... I just need you to stay with me. Can you do that mercy? Can you stay with me?"

"Always Sammy." she says. "Always."