HAPPY NEW YEAR!

May you have a blessed 2013 my dear fanfic lovelies. Thank you so much for reading my fics and for the encouragement you give me. I am always honored.

To all those who have reviewed not just this fic but my other fics too. I am humbled. Thank you ALWAYS.

To Tara, my friend and cohort in writing...thank you love for all your encouragement and assistance. Have a fantastic 2013. God bless you and your beautiful family.

Always to Rose, my writing inspiration. May you and your family have a wonderful 2013, Blessings always.

To our readers, followers, favoriters...have a beautiful 2013 and thank you.

To our wonderfully marvelous reviewers...each and everyone of you are like beautiful gems, your comments and encouragement give me the drive to write.

Disclaimer: yeah still the same as last time...hehehe!

Chapter 8: Strawberry Wine

"Yihaa Diva! I thought I would never say this…" Artie screamed, "But your man is freaking good!"

Mercedes grinned at his comment and looked toward Sam, as the roar of the crowd filled the stadium.

"Hey New York, are y'all having a good time?" Sam shouted.

The crowd roared their approval

Artie joined the roar, "I think I love him diva!" Artie mockingly cried.

Mercedes rolled her eyes and smiled as she watched her friend join the chants of the crowd, "Evans! Evans! Evans!"

Sam turned his gaze toward them standing on the side of the stage and then waved to Artie and blew a kiss to Mercedes, who waved and blew a kiss to him in return.

"Ah he waved to me!" Artie squealed.

"Stop mocking me Art!" Mercedes huffed.

"What... don't you think I do a great fangirling impression?" he smirked.

"You are so funny!" Mercedes panned.

Suddenly someone ran onto the stage and held onto Sam's legs

"What the hell!" Sam gaped, trying to pull the sad young woman off him.

Quickly the guards swooped and dragged the young woman off stage. The woman screamed as they pulled her away, "Sam I will marry you, I say yes!" she screamed.

Mercedes rolled her eyes as the woman kicked and screamed all the way to the back of the stage.

"Artie…" she huffed, "this is getting ridiculous, I don't know how I'm gonna handle all these exes of Sam's crawling out of the woodwork. I'm getting really annoyed, I don't know what to do!"

Artie grimaced, "look Diva, you know I love you and I have to admit that you and Sam are pretty much made for each other but-"

"But?"

"But, I don't know Cedes, I think Sam has a hell of a lot to prove to you. I think anyone who proposed to that many women has to be mentally unstable!" Artie grimaced.

Mercedes chuckled at first but when she saw that he surely was serious she quickly recovered and changed tact.

"Ok Artie, you are my closest and dearest friend…well next to Kurt, oh and Finn oh and-"

"Yeah, yeah I get it," Artie groaned lifting his hand singling her to stop,

"So what do you think I should do Artie?"

"I am the wrong one to ask Diva, I don't know, I think you need to talk to someone with a bit more life experience under their belt. I'm biased, it doesn't matter how much I like Sam, I would always tell you to kick him to the kerb cos frankly you are supposed to marry me!" he smiled.

"Oh Artie…" Mercedes huffed, rolling her eyes and then giggled, "You know you don't really mean that."

"Um yes I do Diva, so take that pretty little head of yours and find your mom or someone who will be of assistance to you," he grinned.

Mercedes shrugged her shoulders and slowly turned while Artie remained entranced in the concert, "You suck Artie!" she pouted as she stomped off.

"You're welcome," he smiled as he waved her off.

…

Mercedes needed to talk to someone about how she was feeling, she didn't want to talk to her mother because right now they were team Sam and that just annoyed her in all sorts of ways. She really needed to set them straight on their Sam fanning but couldn't be bothered with that at the moment. She needed advice, sound advice.

Spotting Grammy she headed straight for her.

"Hey Grammy!"

"Hey darling," she smiled cleaning her 22, "what's up?"

"I need someone to talk to Grammy...but I'm not sure I should talk to you...being Sam's grandma and all… a-and I can't talk to my mom and dad, cos…they just don't have their senses at the moment so-"

"Shoot darling, how can I help you? what's wrong?" Grandma Evans interrupted then waited for a few seconds and continued, "Um…honey…I think I already know. Can I tell you what I think is wrong darling?"

Mercedes nodded her head in approval.

"It's Sam isn't baby? You still cannot fathom how he could have asked so many people to marry him and in turn that makes you doubt how serious he is when it comes to you. You still don't trust him do you baby?"

Mercedes lowered her head and nodded.

Grandma Evans put down her 22 and gently took Mercedes in her arms.

"Look honey, I love Samuel so much and I know with all my heart that he loves you," she paused and rested her head on Mercedes', "darling…" she moved and looked into Mercedes eyes once more. "Sam needs to prove his love to you; he hasn't done that yet, if he wasn't my grandson and if I never adored him so much I would tell you to get rid of him. But right now darling, you need to talk to him about how you are feeling. You need a real heart to heart love."

"I know Grammy," she groaned as tears threatened, "I'll speak to him after the concert."

"Ok darling," Grandma Evans smiled, "and remember this, that no matter what you decide, you will always be mine and Grandpas choice for Sam, always. I support you no matter what!"

Mercedes wrapped her arms around Grandma Evans as tears rolled down her cheeks, "thank you Grammy," she whispered, "thank you."

….

Final Concert after party

Finn and Artie danced to the music which filled the venue, the sound of the thumping base boomed throughout.

"Artie guess what?!" Finn screamed above the beat of the music.

Artie smiled as a stunning brunette saddled up beside him, "what Finn?!" Art grinned not taking his eyes off the brunette as she moved against him and then slinked onto his lap.

"Hey you…I'm Tina an old friend of Cedes," she smouldered looking deeply into his eyes,

Artie blushed, "hmm, I like," he smirked looking longingly at the Asian beauty.

"ARTIE!" Finn screamed, as the warmth of a young woman's body pushed up against Finns tall frame.

Finn ignored the woman, and yelled as a large grin encompassed his entire face. "Sam is gonna send me to Architect College," Finn chuffed.

"What?!" Artie screamed and saddled up closer to Finn, obviously gobsmacked.

"Yeah," Finn screamed, trying to move away from the woman who seemed to be grinding all over him.

"Yeah he's sending me to Architect college this coming year and dam it Artie I am gonna be a dam architect!" Finn cheered.

"Dam it Finn that is fantastic, and guess what?"

"What?"

"I'm gonna join Sam's band on tour next year, I am finally gonna get some money and actually work, can you freaking believe it!" Artie chortled.

The two slapped each other on the arm and screamed, "SAM EVANS FREAKING ROCKS!"

"Oh shush," Finn lowered his voice, lifting his index finger to his lips.

"I know, he doesn't want Diva to know," Artie endeavoured to be heard above the booming music.

"Do you know why Artie?"

"Yeah, he's afraid she'll think he's buying her friends, he just wants her to be happy and he knows that if her friends are happy then so is she,"

"Gosh he's pulling out all the stops," Finn laughed.

"Hell yeah!" Artie cheered.

Then they both screamed, "SAM EVANS ROCKS!"

"Oh and guess what else?" Artie cheered.

"What?" Finn queried.

"Mercedes wants me to be her manager, cos you know how she was going for a demo? Well they loved it and she is gonna have a single coming out in a few months!" Artie grinned.

"What?! I knew she did well on the demo and the single stuff but… She never told me she was gonna make you her manager?!" Finn furrowed his forehead and grimaced.

"Well guess what?" Artie cheered holding up a bottle of beer.

"What?"

"I'm just lying!" He chortled then turned to dance with his Asian beauty.

Finn in the meantime was getting really annoyed with the hussy that kept rubbing up against him, "what the hell do you want?" he grabbed her by the arm and gasped as he was finally seeing who it was who was saddled up against him.

"Quinn? Quinn? What the hell are you doing?!"

"What do you think I'm doing Hudson?" she moaned pressing her body up against his.

Finn shuddered, "gross…keep the hell away from me you troll."

Finn walked off decidedly peeved.

"Finn, please, Finn…" Quinn ran up to him and grabbed his arm, "I'm sorry, I-I just don't know what came over me, I-I…I-I-"

Finn eyed her with confusion.

"Finn Hudson…" Quinn huffed then quickly dragged him to a quiet area, "Finn Hudson, I'm in love with you and I have been for such a long time and I just wanted you to know that cos I-I um…I-I um dam it, this was a bad idea," she huffed and then began to walk off, her face red with embarrassment.

Finn grabbed her by the arm, "Quinn", he groaned, "I-I thought you didn't like me, y-you are so…well um m-mean! And um well…you are so mean to me…like all the time!"

Quinn wrung her fingers nervously, "I know, I just didn't want you to know that I really liked you, Cos...you didn't like me…and besides…you always hung around Mercedes so I figured you and her were an item, b-but-"

"She loves Sam and he loves her," Finn gaped.

"I know!" Quinn whispered and lowered her head, "I'm sorry I've been so mean to you and I'm sorry for laughing at you at Kurt's that time, I never meant it, I just freaked cos you looked so…um…freaking hot behind the bar!"

Finn gasped and then smiled, "Look Quinn do you wanna go and get a coffee or something and we could…well…um…talk?"

"I'd like that Finn," Quinn smiled.

Finn took her by the hand and led her out of the bustling club. As they exited they bumped into Sam and Mercedes who were entering.

"Hey Finney," Mercedes smiled, "where are you off to?"

Finn blushed and released Quinn's hand, "um we um me and um…we are going to get a coffee."

"Oh…" Mercedes smirked arching her eyebrow, "have a great night," she winked.

Finn smiled at Mercedes as they continued to exit and mouthed, I'll call you.

Mercedes winked and gave him the thumbs up. Mercedes had always hated Quinn, but after Sam told her about how supportive, albeit begrudgingly, Quinn was towards Mercedes and his relationship her view of Quinn changed slowly but surely.

"Ah…" she squealed, "did you see that Sammy? They are gonna be in love I tell yah!"

Sam wrapped his arms around his girlfriend and smiled, "well who would ever have thought, Quinn and Finn,"

Mercedes smiled as she dragged Sam into the nightclub. As the night drew on Sam and Mercedes held each other as the final song began to play.

"This song is for Sam and Mercedes," The DJ trilled. The familiar introduction of Strawberry Wine began. Mercedes stepped out of Sam's arms and began to walk away.

"No Mercy, don't go, this is our song baby," he took Mercedes in his arm, Mercedes, lowered her head against Sam's chest and mumbled, "No Sammy, it was a long time ago but no, no, it isn't!"

"Mercy, please look at me!" he whispered, "I love you Mercedes Jones, so much."

Mercedes raised her head, "I need to talk to you Sammy!"

Sam looked into her eyes as Strawberry Wine echoed around them.

"I don't trust you Sammy, I'm so sorry but I have to tell you that I-"

"Mercy," Sam interrupted, "I don't expect you to trust me, I need to earn it and I don't expect you to just trust me darling, all these women coming up to me and stuff hell baby, I wouldn't trust me if I were you. I have made some messed up decisions Mercy and I'm so sorry," he whispered with tears in his eyes.

"I-I know that if there is no trust then well- what do we have Sammy? What do we have? I've been thinking about this long and hard and I was thinking that maybe we should just-"

"No Mercy," Sam shook his head, "I had ten years without you and I promised I would never let you go, and I aim to keep that promise, You are my heart Mercy and one day I will earn that trust, You will trust me one day baby, you will, just please don't leave me darling I couldn't take it."

Mercedes wrapped her arms around Sam, Sam held her as tight as he could, "I love you Mercy, and one day, you will know how much!"

They two danced entwined in each other's arms, Sam willing to love enough for the both of them.

…

"Ok Puck, what's the plan?" Sam eagerly asked.

"I don't know why you're asking me, I suck at love stuff so what the hell Evans?!"

"Well Kurt and Blaine have gone back to Seattle, Finn and Artie are off with their new girlfriends which leaves you as my only hope," Sam scratched his head and furrowed his brow.

"Oh c'mon brother, you must have more hope than me?! Really? Bed em and leave em Puck mister? Whatever?!" Puck smirked while looking at the latest edition of playboy.

Sam grabbed the magazine off him, "look Puck, this is like life and death to me, I could die from this?"

"What the hell are you talking about? All you wanna do is to get Mercedes to trust you, how is that so life threatening?" Puck huffed folding his arms disgruntledly.

"Cos if she doesn't trust me then she will dump me and if she dumps me then I will die!" Sam screamed throwing his arms into the air.

"You are so melodramatic," Puck rolled his eyes

"Ok then if she dumps me, then you will have a repeat of the past 10 years on your hands!" Sam stood pacing back and forth.

Puck quickly sat up and screamed, "well hurry up and what the hell are we gonna do then?!"

Puck did not want a repeat of the past 10 years. As Sam relayed his plans to provide for all of Mercedes friends and family to impress her Puck raised an eyebrow then sat back, pondering Sam's strategies to win Mercedes.

After a few minutes silence Puck grimaced, "Buying her friends and family brother that is the most idiotic idea I have ever heard."

Sam groaned, "well it's not like buying, I-I'm j-just giving them gifts." he stammered.

Puck rolled his eyes and shook his head, "ok brother close your eyes, tell me this, when you first met Mercedes what can you remember?"

Sam closed his eyes, "Um we were down by the river, it was hot and I remember her eyes, her voice everything about her perfume her everything," Sam smiled.

"Ok now was there anything in that memory that had to do with money or possessions or anything to do with monitory things?" Puck furrowed his brow.

"No!"

"Did you have to buy her things or declare any great thing or anything for her to be with you?"

"No!"

"In all the times you were with her was there any time where you felt you had to give her family or friends anything?"

"No, cos it was just her and I, I-I never thought about that stuff."

"Ok now open your eyes. When you think of Mercedes Jones what do you think of?"

"Um Love," Sam beamed.

"There you go, you need to be just you Sam, stop the great big planning, she loves you, she doesn't need you to buy her friends things or do some great big sign of love to her, she just wants you."

Sam lowered his head.

"The problem with you Sam is that your always trying to impress, which is why you had this hang up about being engaged to people, you always try to impress. When all Mercedes probably wants is that old hick of a country boy who she just liked hangin out with."

Puck grimaced and then stood, "I'm gonna tell you something I never told anyone before Sam and don't you repeat it!"

Sam nodded.

"Mercedes Jones is the first girl I have truly loved!"

Sam eyes widened as he gasped, "I knew it you ass! But this story better be going somewhere profound otherwise I'm kicking your butt."

Puck waved him down and grunted, "Calm down and don't go all ninja on me brother… anyway, you know why I loved her? Other than her banging bod an-"

"PUCK!"

"Anyway, I never thought you deserved Diva, which is why when the witch of the south turned up in Cincinnati I had no qualms telling her where you were,"

"You bas-"

"Hang on let me finish…" Puck interrupted, "I see how you are with Cedes, I see your eyes light up when she walks in the room, I see the way she makes you smile…and I get it, because she truly is something else," Puck sat down upon the sofa again, "I loved Diva because of the way she treated me, she never treated me as a hoe or anything, she treated me as…Noah Puckerman…just another boy. When she tutored me for that short time, I was hooked, and solely on who she was as a person. I know why you love her Sam, and if I ever met someone even half as wonderful as Mercedes Jones I would marry them immediately. So just be you Sam, not country singer filthy rich Sam, not high school jock Sam, just be Sam who loves Mercedes Jones, the boy she met by the river and drank strawberry wine coolers with," he smiled.

Sam just stared blankly at Puck unsure as what to say, then finally Sam mumbled, "um well thanks ur I guess Puck, I see what you meant, she did tell me that all she wanted was the old Sammy."

"Well there yah go brother, dam well listen to her," Puck smiled lay back on the couch and threw his feet up onto the arm of the chair, "That will be 500 bucks thanks including tax for my consultation," he smirked closing his eyes.

Sam smiled, "yah know Puck, people think you are a real douche bag, but in reality your-"

"Don't even try to say something nice Evans…" Puck groaned, "Otherwise it might go to my head," he chuckled, "Just go and sort your life out with diva otherwise I'm a gonna sweep down and take her away from you," he smirked.

Sam smiled, "you ain't got a chance brother and threw his Stetson at him."

"It's always worth a try Sammy boy!" he smiled as he lay on the sofa, "it's always worth a try."

….

Sam lay on his Hotel bed thinking about all that Puck had relayed, Sam realised he never really listened to Mercedes, he never really listened to what anyone really wanted, but listened to his own rants and raves instead. In his heart Sam sent up a quick prayer before he fell to sleep, Lord, help me find that innocent cowboy my Mercy loved, help me to find him. Sam pondered this as his eyes drooped and fell into a deep slumber

Sam was asleep for only a few hours when his cell phone rang, looking at the time he grimaced, "hell its 4.00 am who would be ringing at this time?" he looked at the number but it was unknown.

Hesitantly speaking he answered, "h-hello?"

A sniffling Grammy whispered from the other side, "Samuel can you please come to Tennessee, Grandpas in hospital," suddenly there was silence and then the sound of weeping resumed.

Sam sat up and screamed, "Grammy is he alright w-what's happened Grammy?!"

"He's in ICU, he is not well he had a heart attack and it doesn't look very good Sam, please come, I rang you Mom and Dad and they are on their way,"

"Ok Grammy!" Sam jumped up, trying desperately to remain calm, "hell," Sam tripped over and hit the ground.

"Sam are you ok?" Grandma screamed across the line.

"Yeah Grammy sorry um I just fell over, um I will be there as soon as I can," Sam hung up and ran around the room packing his gear and trying desperately to organise himself as tears filled his eyes, "oh please Lord help me." he cried, Sam was in disarray. He loved his Grandpa so much and to know he was in critical condition cut him to the core, he couldn't organise a thing, he ran around the room trying to ring the airline and toss clothes into his bag, when all seemed too confusing he hung the phone up and fell to the ground crying.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door.

"Sammy!" Mercedes cried, "Sammy let me in baby!"

Sam quickly ran to the door and fell into Mercedes arms,

"It will be ok darling," she whispered

"Oh Mercy, Grandpa he's…I…um… Mercy!" He sobbed

"It's ok darling, just sit here," she sat him on the couch and kissed his forehead.

"I will pack a few of your things and Puck is on his way to pack the rest, I've already rang the airlines and there is a flight that leaves in half an hour, I'm sure we will make it!" she cried tears in her eyes.

Mercedes ran into the room and collected an overnight bag and threw a couple of changes of clothing and a few essentials into it.

"Finn, Artie, Tina and Quin are gonna help sort our rooms and will send everything through to Tennessee!" Mercedes whispered.

When she had collected everything she knelt in front of Sam took him in her arms, "It will be ok darling she breathed tears in her eyes, grandpa will be fine."

"Thank you for being here Mercy, I love you," Sam whimpered.

"I love you Sammy, here..." Mercedes threw a change of clothes to him, "get dressed and then we'll be off, Grammy said that your mom and dad will meet us at the airport."

Sam moved to the bathroom and changed his clothing then quickly took Mercedes hands.

"Thank you baby," he whispered, "thank you."

Sam kissed Mercedes on her forehead as they headed speedily out the door to the waiting taxi.

…..

All that could be heard was the beep of the monitor and the air from the Oxygen mask as Grandpa Evans chest rose and fell, tubes fell all around him.

Tears filled Sam's eyes as he held Grammys hand.

"Oh thank you so much for coming Samuel," Grandma Evans whispered as tears ran down her cheeks. "Your Grandpa will be so happy to see you and Mercedes."

"Thanks for calling her Grammy, I am so lucky you did, I didn't know what to do, I was a mess," Sam whispered, head lowered.

"Well I kind of figured that Sam," grandma smirked, "that's why I rang Mercedes before I rang you, I know how you are in a crises and believe you me, between you and Mercedes, I know it will be Mercedes who gets things done. You are hopeless Sam," she chuckled

"Yeah Grandpa would have agreed with that," he smirked.

Grandma Evans held Sam's hand tight, as she gazed toward the man she loved.

"Fifty seven years Sam, fifty seven years with this man and I love him more each day," she smiled, tears in her eyes.

Sam smiled as he looked toward his grandmother.

"Oh Sam," Grammy wept, "What will I do if he leaves me darling, what will I do if God takes him away?"

Sam took his Grandmother in his arms and held her tight.

"Grammy, you are so lucky you have had all these years together, just treasure the memories and know that when he recovers you will have more memories to share," Sam whispered kissing her upon her head.

Grandma hugged Sam and kissed him on the cheek. "You know you are our little Sam man aye Samuel Evans, we love you so much,"

"I love you both too Grammy, I love you both too."

"I have been lucky to have your grandpa in my life for so long, when you find the person you love you must do all you can to hold onto them, you must hold onto your Mercy."

"I know Grammy…" Sam lowered his head, "I really hope Mercy will marry me some day…and I truly mean it Grammy, I love her so much."

"You two remind me of your grandpa and I when we were courting," Grandma reached over and took her husband's hand.

"Did you know darling that your grandpa and I met by the banks of the river at the exact spot that you and Mercedes met," Grandma smiled.

"What?" Sam gaped.

"We were both 17 years of age and I worked on the strawberry fields."

"No!" Sam gasped.

"Yep, your grandpa rode down to the river, threw off all his clothes and jumped in, he didn't even see me under the oak tree,"

"Your jokin Grammy!"

"Nope, he was so funny splashing around and then he saw me and gosh if he never turned beet red, it was so hilarious. From that day on we were smitten, but it took him near on 10 years to sort himself out an actually ask me to marry him, my father hated him."

"He did?"

"Yeah, he thought he was this freaky rich boy who was far too tall and lanky for his liking, he tried to break us up, but as you can see it never worked," she smiled. "I see us in you and Mercedes, your grandpa and I love her son."

"I love her too Grammy, I love her so much it hurts", tears filled his eyes, "I don't want grandpa to die, I want him to be at our wedding. I want you both to dance with Mercy and I and I want you there for the birth of your first great grandchild."

Grandma smiled, "we will be there with bells on wont we darling?" She smiled at her husband adoringly and squeezed his arm as her tears fell to the cold hospital floor."

Sam smiled, thick tears filled his eyes as he looked at the disheveled form of the man he had grown to love and admire. "I love you grandpa," he whispered as memories of old swept through his mind.

…

10 years before

"Grandpa! Grandpa! Where are you?"

Grandpa Evans stood in the stable shoeing one of the many horses they owned.

"Grandpa! Grandpa!"

"Hey quit that hollering boy and hand me another nail," he yelled as Sam made his way around the corner.

Sam ran to collect a number of nails and squatted beside his grandfather as he drove the nail into the horse's hoof.

Sam smiled at his grandfather, who to him was the epitome of what a man should be. He and his father were Sam's hero's and no matter what happened in this world he knew that if ever he needed advice they were the ones he needed to sort.

"So what's all the hollering about son," he mumbled as he drove another nail into its respective place.

"Oh um I um,"

"Well spit it out Son,"

"Oh um I um."

"SAMUEL!"

"Oh sorry sir, I um."

"SAM!"

"I um I need to know what to do poppa."

"What do you mean?"

"Well um I like this um girl,"

"You mean Mercedes right?"

"Um…y-yeah…but how do you know it's her?"

"I know, you think I'm blind son? I see how you look at her! Did it happen at Humboldt son?"

Sam's eyes widened," how did you know we went to Humboldt poppa?"

"Oh son, you think you were the only boy to climb down that apple tree and high tail it to Humboldt? Please son, I did it like a million times before my parents caught me," he chuffed as he released the horses hoof and began de-shoeing a second hoof."

"I'm sorry sir;" Sam stood his head shamefully lowered.

"So you think Mercedes is the one for you aye boy?"

"yeah, I really do, I really think she's the one poppa...b-but how do I know she's...you know THE one?" Sam queried as he bit his bottom lip and pushed his hands into his pockets.

"So, how do you know son? Firstly, how many times a day to you think of her?"

"Um all day,"

Grandpa chuckled.

"What's her favourite colour?"

"Um…purple."

"What's her favourite food."

"Um tater tots."

"Tater tots?"

"Ahmmm," Sam smiled.

"What do you like most about her? and it can't be like her ass or boobs!"

Sam laughed, "her eyes poppa, she has these incredible big brown eyes that I just get lost in, and her lips, they are so beautiful and-"

"Yeah I get the picture", grandpa giggled as he filed the horses hoof.

"Hand me more nails!" he gruffed.

"Well how does she feel about you?"

"Um I think she feels the same way, we kissed at the barnyard dance in Humboldt."

Grandpa Evan raised his head, dropped the hoof and lifted his Stetson back from his forehead hands on hips.

"Y'all didn't go any further south did yah Sam?" He looked at Sam suspiciously.

"Oh no sir," Sam answered him wide-eyed and shook his head vigorously, "no, no no!"

"Good, cos you just can't give your body to every Harriet yah know boy," he took the horses hoof and began completing his work.

"Love is a precious thing, when you find the one you hold onto her."

"I really, really think Mercy is the one poppa!"

"I think she is too son..." Grandpa Evans smiled, "You need to ask her to court you."

"I k-know but I don't know what to do? how do I ask her? d-do I need a ring? I haven't got a ring or anything, m-maybe I should go into town and buy her one and then ask her aye poppa?!" he stammered nervously.

"I got something better than that boy," Grandpa finished shoeing the horse then ran his hands under the tap and wiped them on his chaps. Then he carefully took of his Stetson and unclasped a necklace from around his neck

Turning to Sam he smiled and showed Sam three items.

"Do you see this necklace?"

"Yeah Grandpa,"

"This necklace belonged to your great, grandma on your grandmas side. Your Grammy got it when she was 16 years of age."

Sam looked curiously at the simple silver necklace with the tiny silver shoe horse. "It pretty poppa," Sam whispered.

"Yeah, your Grammy gave it to me on the banks of the river, where you and Mercedes meet."

"What?"

"Yeah, I was 17 years old just like you, and see this ring?"

Sam looked at the small silver signet ring with a tiny diamond inset. This belonged to my great, great, grandma, Grandpa Evans handed it to Sam, inscribed was always and Evans x.

"That's really pretty poppa," Sam gasped.

"And this ring, well this is your grandma's engagement ring, I gave it to her at the strawberry wine festival, it belonged to my great, great grandma".

Grandpa handed it to Sam and smiled, the beautiful, gold ring with the emerald stone glistened in the sun. "Wow grandpa, this is really beautiful!"

"They are yours son!"

"What? Grandpa?" Sam gasped.

"Yeah, Grammy and I discussed this some time ago, and we said that when it was time you were to have this. And son," he smile placing a warm hand on his grandsons shoulder, "its time!"

Same smiled and hugged his grandfather whom he loved. "Thank you poppa," he smiled, with tears in his eyes and gave his grandpa a hug. "thank you very much."

…..

Memories of that day filled Sam's mind, Sam looked at his grandmother and smiled as she lay on her husband's chest, sound asleep, then Sam automatically lifted his hand to his neck and unclasped the silver necklace and looked at the signet ring attached to the delicate choker. Then Sam recalled the day he gave it to Mercedes.

10 years before

Sam stood by the banks of the river, nervously pacing back and forth, he needed to give these to Mercedes before she left, she was gonna be his girl, well he hoped she would be, and he had rehearsed line after line as to what he would say. Their time in Humboldt was perfect and Sam wanted to seal it by making her his girl.

As he watched Mercedes row across toward the shore Sam smiled nervously, "please," he whispered under his breath, "please let her say yes, lord, please, please, please!"

Mercedes jumped out of the boat and bounded toward Sam and took him into her embrace.

"Hey Sammy," she smiled hugging him warmly.

"Hey Mercy," he beamed looking into her warm brown eyes.

Mercedes cast her eyes to the cane basket and candles which sat upon the checkered table cloth and smiled.

"Awww Sammy whats this?"

Sam smiled, "well um I bought some of Grammys strawberry wine and something to eat, he knelt down and began to light the candles."

Mercedes blushed, "aww Sammy, this is so beautiful!"

Sam stood, lowered his head and blushed, "you are so beautiful."

He pulled Mercedes down toward the throw and smiled sheepishly at her whilst he poured the strawberry wine into her glass, then clandestinely threw the signet ring into the glass and handed it to Mercedes.

Mercedes smiled and drank the wine, before Sam could stop her, she had guzzled it quickly and began choking. "Oh my God Sam!" she choked trying to wrench the item from her throat, "oh my…"she gasped

Sam quickly positioned his arms around her chest and performed the Heinrich maneuver, which allowed the ring to pop out of her throat. Lucky Sam had sibling who swallowed things all the time so first aid precautions were always first on the Evans list.

"Sam what the hell?!" Mercedes held her hand to her throat and slowly picked up the ring which lay before her, "What is this?" she rasped, slowly picking up the small ring.

"Um I'm sorry Mercy, I was trying to be romantic, but, oh I'm sorry I always stuff things up," he burrowed his head into his hands and shook his head despondently.

"Oh Sammy, this is so pretty," she huskily rasped, smiling at Sam

Sam raised his head his green eyes met hers, "I'm sorry Mercy!"

"So Sammy, is this for me?" she apprehensively queried.

Sam moved closer to Mercedes, "um yeah Mercy, um I just wanted to know, before you choked that was, he grimaced, if you would be m-my girl? I'm so sorry for choking you!" Sam grimaced.

Mercedes threw her arms around him and cheered, "oh yes Sammy I would love to be your girl, I love you!"

Sam smiled, gently took the ring from her hand and slid it onto her finger, "I love you Mercy."

Mercedes smiled as their lips gently met and they fell into a plethora of kisses.

Sam then pulled away and took the necklace off from around his neck. Sam had taken the emerald ring wrapped it in a case marked 'Mercy' and hid it, he would surely give it to Mercedes one day, he planned and ask her to marry him in this very spot. Sam smiled at the thought.

"Mercy this belonged to my great, great, great grandmother on my Grammys side, and I want you to have it," he smiled handing it to Mercedes.

"It is so beautiful," Sam she gasped tears in her eyes,

"I want you to know how much you mean to me Mercy and I intend you to be in my life always, just like it says on the ring," he smiled.

Mercedes kissed Sam as Sam nervously unclasped the necklace and placed it around her delicate neck. "Thank you Sammy," she smiled and kissed him tenderly on his lips looking adoringly at the beautiful gifts she had received, Gifts that meant the world not only to herself but to Sam's family, gifts from the heart.

….

The beep of the heart monitor filled the hospital room; suddenly grandpas eyes flickered open as his hand tenderly stroked the soft mousey blonde hair of his wife

"Hey darling," he gasped, "you're a sight for sore eyes," he smiled, as their eyes met Grandma Evans smiled and took Grandpa Evans into her arms, and then she slapped him lightly on his hand.

"Don't you dare do that to me again you old fool, otherwise I'll kill you!" she growled a slight lilt in her tone.

"Ok momma, I'll make sure I take note of that," he snickered. Grandma Evans kissed him tenderly on his cheek and then ran out to tell the family of his condition.

"Hey Samuel," he smiled faintly at Sam and took Sam's hand.

Tears fell down Sam's cheeks as he moved toward his grandfather and hugged him; his tears then fell upon his grandfather's chest.

"Hey son, stop those tears now," he groaned but smiling slightly to his grandson, "you're gonna start me going soon." Grandpa looked into Sam's eyes and smiled. Sam Evans, "I dreamed about yours and Mercedes wedding just then," he beamed, "it was so beautiful, you need to ask Mercedes to marry you son," he smiled, "and I mean stat."

"I want to poppa but... look let's not talk about that, let's get you better first."

"Hell I am better son..." he smiled, "and I'll be even better when I dance at yours and Mercedes wedding! You may have stuffed up Sam with all your proposals but I know for sure, you never gave them that ring did you?"

"No poppa, it's still in my hiding place and it's still for Mercy!" Sam blushed.

Grandpa smiled, "there you go son, I'm sure gonna be dancing at yours and Mercedes wedding!"

Sam smiled the biggest smile ever.

Immediately the room was filled with excitement as Mercedes and the rest of the family entered each hugging Grandpa with all the love they could share.

Sam took Mercedes by the hand and kissed her lightly on her neck and then opened her hand and slipped the ring and necklace into it.

Mercedes gasped, "Sammy?" She looked at the special gifts that she had received so many years ago, "but I gave it back to you after we broke up Sammy!"

"Darling it's yours baby, and it always was, I love you!"

Mercedes smiled as Sam gently took them and placed the necklace around her neck and slipped the signet ring onto her finger.

Mercedes was dumbfounded, "um Sammy I thought…um… I-I-I love you Sammy," she smiled and hugged him tenderly. Mercedes had thought that surely Sam would have given them to one of his myriad of girlfriends and/or fiancés and was pleasantly surprised that he hadn't. The sight of the special items filled her heart with joy.

Sam wrapped his arms around Mercedes and smiled as he grandfather hugged his siblings, then his grandfather winked and nodded to Sam knowingly.

Sam smiled, as he held Mercedes and whispered, "I love you Mercedes Jones," a gleam filled his eyes as he thought of the emerald ring hidden high up in the old apple tree. "I love you my Mercy," he smiled closing his eyes and holding her tighter.

Thanks again for reading...Sorry about the mistakes! Please review if you can...Blessings:) Happy 2013 :)