A/N: So I wrote this the day after I heard the news of samcedes breaking up. Some people took the news with a grain of salt but I didn't. I was so sad I honestly thought about just not continuing this. But I figured that samcedes will live on through fanfiction even mine so I got my shit together and finally had the courage to upload it. But fair warning this chapter is even sadder (I believe) than the last.

Some context before reading: outer body dream galore… meaning this and the next few chapters will be just that. Oh and there's a samcedes face to face interaction in this (yay) but I don't want to say anymore cause I already see the imaginary pitchforks being thrown my way after you guys read. Anyway… onto the chapter.

"Hey, umm it's Sam. I know you might not want to talk to me right now, but... I umm I really need to get something off my chest... It's important. Please Mercy... Call me back? Okay... Bye."

That was about the 20th time Mercedes replayed that message in a span of three days. She kept listening, yet she wouldn't call Sam back. She didn't even know why she wasn't calling him back, or what was keeping her from doing it. She just kept listening to the message, over and over. Letting her mind wander what he wanted to tell her. Her Sam thoughts were interrupted as she noticed the time. She looked at her phone: it was 3pm. Time for her to meet Shane at the Lima bean. Things between them were nothing but smooth sailing. She could already tell Shane cared for her deeply. He would listen to what she had to say, hear her sing whenever she decided to bust out a tune and he would tell her she was beautiful almost every day. She hated when he did that. It reminded her of Sam. no matter what she was wearing or how she looked, Sam would tell her that was beautiful, and if she tried to protest he would shut her up with a kiss. "Ugh!"Mercedes thought. She needed to stop thinking about him! To hell with what he had to tell her! It was him who wanted to stop speaking so Mercedes was going to end all ties with him, by any means necessary. And it all starts with her deleting the voicemail.

Mercedes listened to it one more time and then she pressed delete. This was one step forward to forgetting about Sam and trying to focus more on the present: Shane wanted her, he liked her a lot. And it would only be fair to him if Mercedes gave it her all too.

Operation erase Sam Evans from her memory had commenced.

Mercedes made it to the Lima bean about 20 mins late. Shane of course didn't care he just said it was fine and kissed her. He got up to order her coffee and Mercedes smiled internally. The whole car ride not once did she think about he who must not be named. All her thoughts were on Shane and Shane only. Mercedes was proud of herself. She wanted to give herself a high five in public but that would be weird... And too "Sam like".

Dammit! She said under her breath. Another Sam thought crossed her mind. Time to go back to square one. Shane came back with two coffees and he and Mercedes started to get into some light conversation... It was fine and a great distraction but then it took an uncomfortable turn for Mercedes.

"Hey baby... I got something fun to do today if you down for a Shane Tinsley good time" Shane said with a smile.

"If you're there it already sounds like fun... Where are we going?" she asked

"Well, there's a carnival in town for the last couple weeks of summer, and I was hoping you would go with me... We play some games; maybe go on the Tilt-A-Whirl? It's my favorite ride"

Mercedes choked on some coffee at the mention of carnival and "tilt a whirl". It was like god was playing a bad trick on her. She knew now that operation erase Sam Evans from memory was going to be harder than expected. Especially because of the memories of them that surrounded the town. "Maybe I should just freaking move!"Mercedes thought.

She sighed and then answered quickly, before she could even think about it she said, "No."

"What was that baby?" Shane said not quite hearing her.

"I said no. I don't want to go to any carnivals... They umm... They scare me? Yeah they scare me." Mercedes said.

"Good save mercy... Carnivals scare you? I guess it's better than saying they remind you of your beautiful ex-boyfriend?" she thought

"They... Scare you?" Shane asked with a hint of laughter.

"Yep! They do. So do you have anything else in mind?"

"Luckily... I do... I figured a carnival might not be your style... So, how about picnic in the park tonight... Just the two of us under the stars, eating and laughing... What do you say?"

Mercedes smiled; Yes, Shane Tinsley was a great man. "Ok... In our usual spot at the park down by your house?"

Shane shook his head, "Nope! I got a new spot... I'll pick you up at 8:30, sound good?"

"Sounds perfect Shaney baby." Mercedes reached over and kissed her loving boyfriend. Everything was going great, she had no complaints whatsoever. She and Shane drove home shortly after that. He let her out about two blocks down because her brother was home and he didn't like Shane one bit. He even told Mercedes he looked like he had ulterior motives. Nevertheless Mercedes kissed him goodbye, and told him that she would see him later, with a smile he drove off and Mercedes began walking jubilee down the street. Her life seemed to be going perfect; everything was slowly falling into place...

That is until she laid eyes on Sam Evans, who was sitting on the steps of her front door.

Three days he waited for her to call him back. He wanted to tell her, he needed to tell her, but she wasn't calling him back. He couldn't get his mind off of it. Off of her and what he did, he was so distracted he missed his mark while stripping and fell face first onto the stage. Luckily it was just practice, but he did have a nice bruise under his eye. Carla begged him to put on cover up but Sam refused, and it seemed to work because instead of making 60 dollars that day, he made 200 bucks. Sam's guess was because the women felt sorry for him... But he didn't care; the bruise was bringing in the dollars! By the end of the week and the third day Mercedes didn't call, Sam counted his money... In savings he had about 2 grand... But just this week he made 1400 dollars. After his parents told him that they didn't need help this week with rent or anything, Sam sat back and waited for his phone to ring. It was the third day he'd come home and done this... Just waited by the phone for her to call him. He had a lot to say, starting with that he still loved her. Then ending with that he hoped they could be friends after he tells her he slept with another woman. Sam sighed as the hours past with no call. She was ignoring him and for good reason. But if the dreams Sam were having taught him anything it would be that Sam couldn't live with secrets, Mercedes deserved to know. He wasn't going to be like his future self, he wasn't going to hurt her, even if he was hurting inside.
Sam looked down at the money then at his computer. Without thinking he typed his mom and dad a note that they were going to surely be pissed about later. Then he put one single outfit in his duffel bag, put the money in his wallet and walked out the door.

If she wasn't going to talk to him, then he'll just have to tell her in person.

It took 3 hours for him to get to Lima. He got off the bus and headed straight for the Joneses. No one was home, except her brother who left in Mercedes' car minutes before Sam reached the steps. Sam just sat there waiting... He waited for a good hour before he saw her coming up her block. She wasn't looking forward, just absent mindedly smiling at the ground and bumping to her iPod. Sam's heart began to quicken at the sight of her coming closer. He loved that she was wearing dresses more nowadays; she had beautiful legs, that, even though they were short, they were also silky smooth. Damnit! Sam missed rubbing his hands down those legs.
She made it to the front of her house and stopped dead once she saw Sam. Her iPod fell to ground, and Sam bent down to pick it up. Thank god for iPod cases and screen protectors. He reached his hand out to give it back to her, but she hadn't moved. She just stood there, her mouth open slightly, completely shocked that the boy whom she was trying to get over was standing in front of her, in her doorway.

"Hey Cedes'" Sam said with a smile trying to break the tension he was feeling.

After he spoke Mercedes seemed to finally snap out of it, her initial shock wearing off as her expression turned from shocked to just plain pissed.

"What the holy hell are you doing here Samuel?" she crossed her arms in front of her and shifted her weight back and forth.

"I came to see you. Did you get my message? I have something important I need to tell you." Sam said.

"I got your message. I also deleted your message. Sam, you said you didn't want anything to do with me anymore, so why are you still blowing up my voicemail with cryptic messages?"

Sam couldn't believe she was being so distant. Yeah he said that he didn't wanna be friends anymore but he HAD this crazy thought after she saw him she would... Run into his arms and tell him how much she missed him. None of that happened; instead he gets a scowl and a whole lot of questions.

"Look, Mercedes we can talk about it inside, I don't want your neighbors to tell your parents."

Mercedes silently agreed and pushed pass him to unlock her door. She held it out for him and then followed him in. She motioned him to the living room where she sat down on the couch so they could talk.

Sam was fidgeting on the couch as he sat down next to her. How long had it been? Since he and Mercedes were in the same room? Or the same state for that matter? All he could think about was how pretty she looked, and how awesome she smelled. Like fresh roses and lilacs and vanilla... Sam could hardly keep his eyes from closing as he raked in her beautiful...

"SAM!" Mercedes screamed in his face causing Sam to open his eyes and look into her angry brown orbs.

"Yes?" he asked nonchalantly

"You said you wanted to talk... So talk." Mercedes was waiting. Why was he here? What did he want? What was so important that he had to come all the way from Kentucky, looking absolutely fine as hell to tell her something?

Sam cleared his throat and released his own hands. "No time like the present Sammy boy." he said to himself.

"Mercy, umm I don't really know where to start, I guess I'll start by saying, I miss you?" he smiled at her but she didn't smile back, she was listening inventively though, and Sam guessed that was a good sign.

"I wanted to talk to you... About a lot of things, the first being something I should've told you before I ever left, and... That is that I shouldn't of gave up on us that easily... I mean when you said, let's just end it I wanted to tell you NO! And things like, we belong together, let's try long distance. But... You were so angry with me; I feared that you would reject me or something... Silly I know. But still, I shouldn't of let you go Mercedes, because for me our time together was real and... I fell in love with you."

Sam looked into her eyes once more and there was tears forming. He didn't mean to make her cry but he had to get out everything he needed to say... So he kept going.

"I know I fall hard for girls and it ends up biting me in the ass, but I fell in love harder with you Mercedes, than I ever have with any girl…Where it literally ached when I wasn't around you, that's why when I found out about... Your new boyfriend I lost it. It wasn't over for me... It still isn't. And I want you to know that... I love you. Always Mercedes."

"Sam..." Mercedes said through tears looking in his green eyes. "Sam you can't say those things to me! I'm with Shane! You... You said that you wanted us to end whatever the hell this so I am! I'm trying."

She stood up in front of him, yelling. How dare he just come and interrupt her happiness? It was so like Sam to come back just when she thought she was happy... Just when she was trying to make him an afterthought.

"Mercy I'm sorry but you need to know! I can't... I can't live like this! I'm only 17 but what we have it feels like... Grown up love you know? The kind of love people write about! Tell me you don't feel the same way!" Sam stood up too, towering over her shorter frame.

"I don't Sam! Not anymore! You ripped my heart out before you left and I just want to forget! I want to be with Shane! I want to try to love him!" Mercedes screamed.

"When it comes to love Mercedes... You shouldn't have to try... It just happens." Sam plopped back down on the couch to calm himself. He didn't come here for fighting. He came here because he wanted to be honest with her, and he had to stick to his plan.

"Sam..." Mercedes said sitting back down next to him. "Sam, I can't love you... Not anymore. It's too complicated, I'm with Shane, please respect that."

Sam took her hands and intertwined their fingers. They both felt the spark jolting up their arms down to where their hands locked. It always happened whenever they held hands; it was like magic, someone telling them that even if they couldn't see it right now... They were soul mates.

"Mercedes, I... Didn't come here to make you choose between Shane or me. If you want to be with him, I won't stop you. I need you to understand though that you have my heart and... That won't ever change. But... I need to tell you something important."

Mercedes moved closer to him, fingers still locked and she said, "What is it Sammy?" Sam gulped and decided to just say it. It was now or never.

"Umm... After I found out you were with Shane... And after the bad convo we had I... I..."

Mercedes looked into his eyes and saw what he couldn't get out...

"You slept with someone else." she said sadly. Sam just silently nodded and Mercedes let go of his hands, got up and went to the kitchen. She went to the sink and started to wash dishes. Sam came up behind her quickly, turning her around to see that she was crying. She looked at him and then turned back around and continued to wash the same cup over and over.

"Mercedes?" Sam said to her, but she didn't answer.

"Mercedes please, turn around." he tried again. She didn't move, so Sam decided to be bold and he turned her around and pulled her into a hug. That was the breaking point for her, because she cried into his tight flannel shirt.

"I don't know why I'm crying I have no right to be upset... We... We aren't even together." she said trying to push away from him.

Sam held her tighter and said "I'm sorry baby." she pushed at him trying to get him to release her but Sam kept saying "I'm sorry" she finally pushed him away hard and went to the front door. She held it open and told him to leave.

"Get. Out .Sam!" Mercedes said.

"But... I don't want to go... Mercy, I'm sorry it was only once and it meant nothing. I love you, you know that right?"

"Please... Just please go? Please?" she wept. Sam could see he wasn't making anything better. He went to the living room got his duffel bag off the floor and then made his way to the door.

"I'm staying with Puck tonight then I'm going back to Kentucky in the morning. Please Mercedes just... Take care." Sam leaned over her, and pecked her lips softly with his. This was goodbye, he knew it, but he didn't want to come to that realization. But he knew she would never forgive him. And he had to be ok with that. The kiss was without a doubt the saddest kiss Sam was ever part of… she was kissing him back, but it wasn't passionate or hot and heavy... It was a peck but damnit Sam still felt something, and he knew she did too. He left right after that, tears in stung his eyes as he said goodbye to the girl he was madly in love with... Forever.

That night he cried his self to sleep as he snuggled with Puck in his bed.

In the hospital Sam waited to hear the news on his wife- ex-wife's condition. He was pacing back and forth at the nurses desk... All he could remember was how she fell on the ground in the middle of their argument... The recent memory eating him alive.

"Oh my fucking god!" Mercedes screamed as she clutched her stomach for dear life.

Sam ran over to her and kneeled down. "Mercy! What's wrong are you alright?"

"Sam I'm in excruciating pain around my stomach... I... Oh my fucking god! It hurts." Mercedes was holding her stomach and rolling in Sam's arms.

Sam was panicking... He didn't know what to do; he picked her up bridal style and laid her out on the couch then ran to get his cell phone. Immediately he called 911.

"Hello... Yeah... My wife she's in excruciating stomach pain... She's pregnant... Yeah she's conscious but I'm afraid she might lose the baby..." Sam said to the operator.

"SAM! Where are you! Ow!" Mercedes yelled from downstairs...

"Please... Hurry."

Now Sam was in the waiting room as the doctor was checking on Mercedes. Sam couldn't stop blaming himself. They were fighting again because of him. He was a total jackass... How dare he yell at his pregnant ex-wife? His life was a fucking mess. Before Sam could curse himself out one more time the doctor came out and told Sam to follow him. Mercedes was lying on the hospital bed with her arms crossed and a pout on her face.

"I told you I didn't want him in here!" Mercedes said to the doctor.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Evans, but he is the father... He is every part of this as you are." Dr. Jensen said.

"Doctor, can you please fill me in?" Sam asked calmly, completely ignoring Mercedes attitude.

"Your wife was experiencing the first of many Braxton Hicks contractions... They usually do not come till later in the pregnancy even though the first signs of them are when she's about 6 weeks. But these were different... Brought on by stress. That's why your wife said it felt like she was dying. Stress can make them worse and way more frequent then they should be."

"I'm NOT his wife!" Mercedes exclaimed.

"Mercy will you just stop before you stress yourself out even more?" Sam yelled back.

"I'm stressed because I'm having a baby with my lying cheating ex-husband! That would stress anyone out!" her voice getting higher and blood pressure rising.

"You think I'm the stress pill? I'm having a baby with my bitter ex-wife, trust me Mercedes the feeling of being around you stresses me just as much." Sam spat.

"OK! That's enough!" Dr. Jensen stepped in. "Both of you need to understand something, if you keep doing this, you will lose your baby. And no matter what happened between you two, the baby needs you to be happy and healthy to survive. It feels everything you do. I suggest you think about that."

Sam and Mercedes looked down like they both had been chastised by their parents. "On behalf of Sam, we are sorry doctor" Mercedes said.

"Don't be sorry. This isn't about me. It's about your baby... You know what? Here" Dr. Jensen took out a pen and wrote down a number on a piece of paper then handed it to Sam.

"Who is Ian Adams?" Sam asked.

"He's a couple's therapist. And a damned good one... He's an old friend of mine; tell him doctor Jensen recommended you. Now you don't have to do this... But I suggest if you want to have a baby together you two need to work out whatever is going on between you two. So you at least can co-exist."

Sam looked at Mercedes once Doctor Jensen left; he came over and sat in the chair next to her.

"Do you think she's right...? Do we need therapy?" Sam asked her.

"I never thought we did. But I think she's right, we can't keep fighting Sam. It's not good for our baby. I... I don't want to lose our baby." Mercedes said rubbing her stomach.

Sam got up and placed his hands over hers on her stomach and he said, "Me neither, I know it isn't born yet... But I love him already."

"Me too." Mercedes stroked his hand gently.

"So were really gonna do this then? Go to therapy?"

Mercedes smiled unevenly, a page of she took from Sam's side smile book and said, "Yes... Well at least we can try."

a/n: so do you hate me for what happened? Let me know. Oh and I took all your reviews about shanecedes into consideration. And next chapter will be a doozy. Sam is going to come to realizations, Mercedes and Shane are going to have a talk about something she probably should've told him already and the dreams finally help Sam out! Hooray for making connections right? Ok bye- Melle