I thank you guys for being so patient, and oh I love your reviews. I hope you enjoy this newest chapter. Stay safe and blessed! I love you

Mercedes sat on her bed, folding clothes as she mentally reviewed what she needed to do this week. MJ had a playdate, she had to go grocery shopping, and she needed to pick MJ up a new pair of shoes; his feet were growing bigger at an alarming rate, but that was childhood growth, she assumed.

As she placed the clothes into the basket, her phone rang. Picking it up, she smiled. "Hi, Ms. Ellie. How are you?"

"All these years, and you still won't call me mom?"

Mercedes sighed. "It's not…"

"I'm just teasing, girl; I know you love me. I wanted to know if Jr. was coming over tonight for your shift?"

"Yes, Ma'am, he's excited; he loves visiting you."

"I gotta say he's giving me life. I felt down and out before you, and I got back in contact. Thank you for this, Mercedes; I mean it."

"Ms. Ellie, you are a part of this family, and he needs a good influence like you."

"You flatter me; well, I need to start baking; I will have some cookies for you to take to your friends when you get here."

Mercedes laughed. "Hence why they love it when I drop MJ off. I will talk to you later."

Hanging up, Mercedes chewed her bottom lip, thinking about when she first met Ms. Ellie; she was three years old, and Ellie was Mal's adopted mom. She was kind but Mercedes found it hard to get close to others after what she went through.

Mercedes hadn't wanted to leave her brother's side when their mother gave up them up. But the case worker had two homes, both wanting one child, so they split them up. She wasn't a difficult child; anyone who had been around her as a baby could attest to that. She was quiet, observant, and very intuitive.

The first home she went to was a couple who had wanted a child more than anything. They were good to her, even letting her see Malcolm every other week; Mercedes couldn't remember much from that time, just how nice they were and how Ms. Ellie made her treats whenever she saw Malcolm.

She was with them for almost two years until they had their own child, they had only wanted one, and the moment they got pregnant and had the baby, there was no need for Mercedes. She was returned to the system, and at five years old, she got her first taste of feeling not wanted. Not needed.

She was in and out of foster homes from when she was five until she was nine. Each one is worse than the other. She was physically abused because she wouldn't do what she was told. It wasn't that she didn't want to, but cleaning messes after people when she was five didn't make sense to her. And she let them know that she was not Cinderella, and they let her know she was worthless.

It was clear and said to her that no one wanted her; they just wanted the money they got from her being there. She hated going to school in hand-me-downs and clothing that was too big for her; the jokes and teasing made her feel small.

But when she was nine, she was finally hopeful, and so was her case worker, when she told Mercedes that she had found her a home. And although she really just wanted to see her brother, her case worker assured her that she would get the chance once she was settled.

Sadly for her, that wasn't the case. Her foster family consisted of a new mom, a new dad, and an older foster brother who liked to use Mercedes as a punching bag and sparring partner against her will.

The first six months were decent enough, with everyone getting along and making sure Mercedes didn't say anything that affected their bottom line, but that changed once the visitations stopped. That is when the pain and the anger started, and all because of her foster brother.

Jackson Jenkins, aka JJ, was a mean SOB even just at twelve; he was twice Mercedes's size and used it to his advantage, especially considering he was big on Wrestling. He would shove her down when he was angry, pull her hair out and twist her arms until she begged for mercy. He would use his wrestling moves on her, breaking her arms and legs.

She told her foster parents, but neither cared. Her foster father even began filming it, then showed JJ what he was doing wrong with his moves. The first time JJ broke her arm, she tried to tell the hospital what happened, but her foster parents made sure she stopped speaking. Once home, they threatened her, and she kept her mouth shut, not telling anyone anything.

She was miserable; between school and home, she felt like she was all alone. And just when she thought all hope was lost, Mercedes got a letter from Malcolm. It was like a sign; after a year and a half of the violence, she had had enough and couldn't take it anymore. So she stole three hundred from her foster parent's money jar, and she ran away to the only place that felt safe, to Mal.

Once she arrived, Ms. Ellie took one look at her and invited her in, holding her close into a hug. She consoled Mercedes and made her something to eat. After she told Ms. Ellie what happened and why she ran away, Malcolm came home from school, running right to her and growing angry, staring at her broken leg and shattered appearance.

It took everything in Mercedes to feel comfortable; though Ms. Ellie and her husband Grant took her in, Mercedes couldn't seem to let go of her pain, of her anger. She couldn't let go of the fear that the other shoe would drop.

Mercedes still remembered the first night she stayed with them….

Mercedes lay in the bed of her new room, trying to fall asleep, but the sounds and feelings were unsettling. Though the Jones were a great family, they didn't want her when she was younger; they only wanted Mal; why would now be different?

It took a long time for her to fall asleep, but it didn't last long before the nightmares plagued her. She never remembered them, only remembered what they felt like—remembered the anxiety, fear, and helplessness.

Waking up screaming, light flooded the room, and she opened her eyes to see Miss Ellie pulling her into a hug as Mal and Grant stayed by the door.

"Shhh, it's okay, baby girl. It's okay." Ellie said, rocking her.

Mercedes was stiff at first, but soon she hugged the older woman back, tears falling from her eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry to be so much trouble."

Ellie shook her head. "No, sweetie, you aren't trouble."

Mercedes didn't believe her because she was trouble, always trouble.

Ellie started to hum, and Mercedes stilled, trying her best to calm her beating heart and her fears. Mercedes blinked back her tears, looking up at her. "Wh-what are you singing?"

Ellie smiled, looking over to Grant. "It's a special song, one that was sung at our wedding, the first song Grant and I danced to."

Mercedes looked over to Grant; seeing him smile and seeing Mal it made her long for a home she would never have. Shaking off that thought, she sighed. "Can you…can you teach it to me?"

Ellie smiled. "Do you sing?"

Mercedes shook her head. "My foster parents always told me I didn't have a good enough voice to sing, so I…I stopped singing."

Ellie took her hand and smiled. "Well, our song goes like this. There's a somebody I'm longin' to see; I hope that he turns out to be—someone who'll watch over me. I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood; I know I could always be good. To one'll watch over me."

Mercedes listened to her singing and smiled as she started to sing along; Ellie smiled, shaking her head.

"I don't know what those people were smoking, but you have such a beautiful voice."

"You mean that?" Mercedes asked.

"I do."

She's right, Merce." Malcolm said, moving to the bed and sitting down. "Sing some more."

Mercedes smiled nervously as she began to sing again.

Mercedes sighed, returning to reality, as she picked up MJ's clothing and put them away. She really cared about Ms. Ellie and Mr. Grant, but as much as she wanted to believe that they cared about her, it was hard to.

Though they offered to take her in, her case worker forced her to return to her foster home while the paperwork for Ellie and Grant went up the ranks. She hated being back at that place and feared for her life. They punished her for running away, and she was losing faith in Ellie and Grant, faith in herself.

But a few weeks after her eleventh birthday, she was on her way home from school when she noticed police surrounding her foster home. Not only were her foster parents abusive bastards, but they stole from their company, and their roosters were coming to roost. Mercedes was picked up and questioned, which surprised her. Thankfully the paperwork was in, and Ms. Ellie and Mr. Grant were granted temporary custody.

From the moment she arrived, everyone tried to be on their best behavior, but Mercedes was scared that living with Ellie and Grant was temporary; she tried to push them to see if she would get pushed away. But they just promised her it would get better. They bought her new clothes, put her in school, and tried to help her feel comfortable.

But she didn't unpack her bag for nine months; she skipped classes, mostly because she was tired of being made fun of. She didn't feel as smart as the other kids, and she felt like she was out of place. But instead of yelling or punishing her, they got her tutors, Ellie took her to get her hair done, and they put her in therapy.

Mercedes smiled, thinking of the first time she felt at home there, it was her twelfth birthday, and they took her and Mal to Disney World. It was the first time she felt a part of a family, and that was something she craved. But something inside of her just wouldn't accept Ellie and Grant as her mom and dad. She wanted to, but it just felt so fake to pretend.

And the best thing about them is that they never pressured her into calling them mom or dad, and they never pushed her further than she was willing to be pushed, which she appreciated.

Coming out of her thoughts, MJ started to whine, and she checked the time. "Mommy's coming." Walking into his room, she smiled. "Hey, big boy. You ready to go see Nana Ellie?"

"Mmm, tired.." MJ whined.

"I know, baby; let's take a quick bath and get you dressed, then you get to rest while I go to work."

"I go to Nana?"

"Yes baby, you go to Nana Ellie. Now let's get you clean."

Mercedes smiled, handing Henry one of her favorite vets his burger and beer. "Here you go, Hank; I also had them add extra pickles."

Henry smiled. "You are my Angel."

She laughed. "I'll be back to check on you in a few." Turning from him, she made her way to the other side of the bar, smacking Santana's hand away as she was trying to make a drink.

"Ow! Why you gotta be so violent, Mercedes!" She snapped with a smirk.

"Cause you taught me how to be Santana!"

Santana laughed. "Oh well, proceed. I need a beer off the tap. And for real, you smack my hand away again, and I will cut you."

Mercedes rolled her eyes. "You can try, but you already know I take kickboxing; I got moves."

"Girl, I am in that class, witcha! That doesn't mean I won't cut you." Santana said.

"How about you both stop talking about cutting each other and start taking orders," Marley said, placing her tray on the counter.

"Marls, you are new here; let me give you some advice. Santana and I are always right." Mercedes laughed. "And we fight with love."

"We fight each other with love. Other people, not so much."

Marley laughed, walking back to the kitchen. Santana sat on the stool and smiled.

"Soo, we haven't caught up in a few days. Did MJ get to Ellie's okay?"

Mercedes nodded. "He did; he loves going over there, she and Grant are really good to him, and they like being grandparents,"

Santana smirked. "So does that mean you and your super hot tenant will be all alone tonight?" She wiggled her eyebrows at her.

Mercedes smiled, rolling her eyes. "Stop right there with your dirty mind. Sam is a great tenant, and he is kind, and he isn't messy, and that is all he is."

"Really? All he is?" Santana asked, giving him a knowing look.

"What else could he be?"

"Well, he's nice enough, and not to mention he is gorgeous…."

Mercedes shook her head. "I hadn't noticed because I am off of men. Right now, my focus is MJ. That is all."

"Well, that's a damn shame. All that body, and no one is loving on it." She sighed. "If only we had experimented in high school together, and maybe things would be different." Santana teased.

Mercedes rolled her eyes as she finished making the drinks. She loved Santana; the woman was one of her best friends and had been for a long time. The two met in high school when Mercedes finally felt safe enough to come out of her shell. Santana was the outgoing, strong-willed lesbian who took no shit from anyone. And Mercedes was immediately drawn to the girl, and she was strong-willed herself, so the two instantly clicked and became best friends in a way they both needed.

Santana had also given her the strength to talk to Finn. Though she had crushes throughout her life, none came close to what she felt for Finn. He was so kind to her, so honest and sweet. For a long time she felt like her crust was one sided, though in her senior year, Santana encouraged her to admit to Finn that she really liked him.

Surprised in the best way, Finn admitted that he had really liked her and thus they started their relationship. He was handsome and fun, and he loved her. He was her first love, and she was happy that he was.

Though Finn loved her, he was still in love with his ex Rachel and no matter how close he and Mercedes got, that fact remained true. So she convinced him to follow his heart and talk to Rachel; the two had been together since.

After Finn, she tried to focus on herself and her goals. She wanted to make sure that her future was better than her past. Ms. Ellie, Mr. Grant, and Mal convinced her to attend college. Take some classes and try to figure out what she wanted to do with her life. And for a while, she did. For a time, she was happy and free. Even with Mal joining the Military, she tried to focus on herself.

But then she met Anthony Rashaad. He was a handsome all american who Mercedes thought she didn't deserve but was really glad that she held his attention. She was 19, in school, and working as a barista. He must have seen something in her that told him he could hurt her because he preyed on her. Telling her everything she wanted to hear, needed to hear.

When he asked her to marry him, she said no, at first, only because she wanted to finish school and wanted to own her own company. But Anthony was persistent, and he wore her down. Making her believe that no one else would care for her and no one else would want her. So they eloped.

The first few months were excellent; he was attentive and loving. He made her feel like she was his world. But then he made her quit her job, then school. He became possessive, verbally then physically abusive. He cut her off from her friends and her family. And the only one who could get through to her was Malcolm. But every time he left, Anthony came back with another sob story. And she fell for it.

Shaking off her thoughts, she heard the bell ring."Sit anywhere you want, and we will be right with you." She said without looking up.

"I think I know just where I wanna sit, baby," Anthony smirked, sitting across from her.

"Oh, you a brave one, sitting within cutting distance." Santana sneered.

Anthony shook his head but looked at Mercedes. "Where is my son?"

"Santana, I think it's time we got our license to carry. Because he is…testing me right now."

"I'm not asking for me; I'm asking for my mother. She is missing him." Anthony said, sounding sincere, but Mercedes knew better than that.

"Anthony…you have thirty seconds to vacate that seat and leave this place." Mercedes warned.

"All I want is a burger and a conversation with my wife."

"Ex-wife!" Santana corrected him.

Mercedes looked up as a group walked in. "San, go handle that table; I got this."

Santana eyed him but nodded. "I'll be around." She warned before grabbing some menus and walking away.

"Anthony, one, if your mother wants, she can have visitation with me at a park, but she can call. Second, we have the right to refuse service, and I refuse to serve you."

"You don't need to be emotional, baby." He said, reaching for her.

"Why are you here? I have nothing for you, nothing to say to you?"

He shrugged. "I want you back. Mercedes, we have a child together; without your brother, you have no family.

Mercedes moved out of his reach. "Anthony, you need to leave."

"And if I don't?" He asked, leaning in.

"Anthony, you can leave voluntarily." Mercedes pulled out her taser and planted it on the counter, hand on the trigger. "Or involuntarily, but make no mistake, you will be leaving."

Anthony smirked. "Yeah, okay, I'll go. But you should know, I am filing for full custody of MJ."

"Ha! I know your mother explained that doing that would be a mistake. Don't make me have you arrested right now for going against your restraining order."

"He's my damn son, and I will not have you turning him against me." Anthony growled.

"No, he is my son and your problem, as you called it. I remember telling you I was pregnant, and you beat me pretty bad trying to get me to lose him." She said, seething. "So, get out, or I will taze your ass out of this place."

Anthony nodded, holding his hands up. "Fine, I'm out, and I'll be seeing you and your pathetic boyfriend."

He walked out, and Mercedes groaned in anger. "I just want to be done with him."

"Just say the word, and I will make it happen, babe." Santana said. "I know how to get rid of bodies, and no one will miss that bastard."

Mercedes checked her watch, and Santana smiled. "You performing tonight?" Santana asked.

"I'm thinking about it; I am glad Finn let us add Karaoke here. It seems to bring morale up."

Santana nodded. "Well, if you choose to sing, let me know, and maybe we can give these guys something to talk about."

Mercedes laughed. "Yeah, maybe."