"Do you hate me?"
Sam looked over at Mercedes in surprise, they had been on the road for almost three hours and those were the first words that she had said to him. She had been withdrawn all morning to the point of almost being sullen and it was clear from her pinched expression and red eyes she didn't get much sleep the night before. That morning after a tearful goodbye to Santana she had gotten in the passenger seat of her car and turned her face towards the window and she hadn't turned it away since. Until now.
"Do you hate me?" She asked again but this time her voice was thick with tears. "I know I deserve it after everything I've done..."
"I don't hate you Mercedes, but I am mad at you. There are times I'm so mad at you that I can barely see straight."
Mercedes visibly shrank in her seat and bright unshed tears shone in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Sam."
"I know that but it still doesn't change what you've put me through...what you've put all of us through. I don't want to upset you but do you realize how much you hurt the people that love you the most?"
"No, I didn't think about it, I refused to think about it. There was a part of me-a big part, that knew there was a really good chance I was wrong but I would always ignore it. I couldn't let myself think about what I was doing to others because the guilt would crush me. You were right, I was a coward." Tears rolled down Mercedes cheeks and as she whispered the last part quietly.
"I didn't say that to upset you—"
"I know," Mercedes nodded, "you don't have to explain yourself, you had every right to say what you did."
"About some of it, maybe, but not all of it…I'm sorry about the whole custody thing."
"Did you mean it? If I hadn't come back with you would you have sued me for custody?"
"Honestly? I don't know. When I said it I was so mad that yeah…I think I meant it, but whether or not I would have ever been able to go through with it remains to be seen."
"Oh." Mercedes gave him a long look that he couldn't read before turning to look out the window once again.
Sam bit back a heavy sigh as he spared a quick glance at the back of Mercedes' head. The whole purpose of this trip was for them to talk but they couldn't do that if she shut down every five minutes. Sam wanted them to get all of their shit straight before they got to New York because he knew that once Mercedes saw what was in store for her there she wouldn't be in any mood to talk.
The need to push her into a conversation was strong but he thought better of it. They had many miles to travel and he knew that Mercedes couldn't keep up the silent treatment for too long. So he would wait.
And he did.
Several hours later as they were passing the border into Savannah, Georgia Mercedes finally spoke up again, "How did you find me? You said we would talk about it on the trip."
"You really want to talk about it?"
"Yeah...I mean, I'm curious but you don't have to if you don't want to."
"No, we should get everything out in the open, so I'll tell you. But I can't just tell you how I found you, I have to start from the beginning...
12 Weeks Ago
I had been four days.
No, wait.
Five.
It had been five days since his world had crashed around him. Sam lifted his bleary head from his kitchen counter and flexed his still sore right hand. The fading pain was one of the few constant reminder s he had of all that he had lost. The woman that he loved was gone and she had taken their child with him. He had pursued every meager lead he had to no avail. Even in his alcohol addled state Sam could still recognize the irony in this whole situation. He and Mercedes had literally spent every waking moment together for six weeks and they had talked about all kinds of things—except for the important stuff. He knew she used to live in Ohio, but he didn't know what town. He knew she grew up with a single mother but he didn't know her name or the name of Mercedes' father. He knew that her best friend was Kurt, and she was good friends with Emma, however other than that he had no clue. He dreamed about marrying this woman and yet he hardly knew a thing about her. How did that even happen? The only thing Sam could think of was that they thought they had time. There was no need to cram the small details in every conversation because they would get to them later, because they had time.
Except they didn't.
Sam pushed angrily away from the kitchen counter and stumbled towards his living room. He had no idea what time it was but it dark outside so he figured it was as good as a time as any to try and get some rest. Once he reached his sofa he flopped down on it and prayed for sleep to overtake him. His wish was granted but less than an hour later the shrill ring from his cell phone in his pocket jarred him from his restless slumber.
"WHAT?" He barked angrily into the phone.
"Um...hello?" A small voice that Sam didn't recognize came through the phone, "is this Sam Evans."
"Who is this?"
"Marilyn...Marilyn Jones."
At the mention of the last name Sam popped up into an upright position and closed his eyes to the sudden dizziness that overtook him.
"Hello? Are you there?"
"Yes!" Sam practically yelled and he cringed at how loud his voice came out. "Yes, I'm here." He said quietly.
"I'm sorry to bother you—"
"You're not, not at all. You're Mercedes' mom, right?"
"Yes."
"Have you—do you know where she is?" Sam asked desperately.
"Yes. She's here with me."
Sam released a breath that he felt like he had been holding for the last five days as he laid his head back against the couch in relief.
"Is she okay? Is the baby—" Sam's voice cut off because he couldn't voice the one fear that had been plaguing him since he found out she ran off.
"She's not okay. She's been holed up in her old bedroom for days. As far as the baby goes, there is still one if that is what you were wondering."
Sam's eyes pricked with tears of relief because it felt as if a 1000 pound weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
"Sam, are you still there?"
"Yes," he choked out, "pardon me for asking but how did you get this number?"
"Kurt. I called him to find out what was happening since Mercedes wasn't talking and he basically told me everything. Sam...I'm so sorry."
Sam was shell shocked after what Marilyn said. Of all the things he expected her apologizing to him was the last thing.
"Why are you apologizing to me, shouldn't I be the one apologizing for this mess?"
"No...I'm apologizing for my daughter. I spoke with Kurt and I'm getting the impression that she made a very rash decision."
"What did she have to say?"
"Not much, most of what I got about the story was from Kurt. He was the one that gave me your number."
"Kurt told you to contact me?" Sam asked in surprise, "I was sure he hated me."
"He had his reservations...he still does in some respects but he said that given what he knows about the situation he knew that Mercedes was making the wrong decision by running away. I agree with him 100%."
Sam was struck speechless. The last thing he ever expected was for Kurt to help him out in any way after what he had said to him the day Mercedes left.
"I don't know what to say—"
"Say you'll come here and work things out with my daughter. If this was just between the two of you I would stay out of it but this involves my grandchild. I want him or her to have the best life possible surrounded by as much love as possible and I'm sure you'll agree."
"I do."
"Good. You and Mercedes need to get this misunderstanding sorted out as soon as possible. Regardless to what you're personal relationship is when it's all said and done you both still need to be on the same page when it comes to this baby."
"I agree. I had every intention of talking about Mercedes about all of this but she took off before I got the chance."
"I know, I know, Mercedes can be very stubborn sometimes."
"She most defintely can be that." Sam laughed lightly, "I don't want to force this on her though, if I push she'll just push back. However, I do want to talk to her because I think it will be the best thing to get us started on the right path."
"Yes, I know this is for the best and I'm sure she knows it too, she just doesn't want to admit it. So, how soon can you be here?"
Sam was a bit taken aback at the eagerness in Marilyn's voice but his heart was warmed by it. It was nice to feel that he finally had somebody on his side.
"Tomorrow, is that too soon?"
"Tomorrow? That would be perfect."
"Are you going to tell Mercedes that I'm coming?"
"No, I think it's best if we don't tell you're coming—"
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Sam interrupted worriedly "I think ambushing her will just make her really mad."
"Oh yes, she'll definitely be mad—"
"Then maybe you should let her know I'm coming."
"No...no, don't worry about it."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. She needs to know the truth and she'll only believe it coming from you."
"Okay, if you're sure..."
"I'm sure honey, don't worry about it. I want what's best for my grandchild."
"I want that too, I just don't want Mercedes angrier at me than she already is."
"I understand, but I think it will be okay." Marilyn said kindly before switching gears and asking if he were ready for the address.
Sam grabbed a pen and pad from the side table and he got in position to write down Marilyn's address. As he waited for her to start speaking he looked down and noticed his fingers trembling slightly.
"I'm ready," he said somewhat shakily.
"Okay, it's 5151 Spartan Way, Lima Ohio—"
Sam scribbled quickly but he was brought up short when he heard Marilyn cut off suddenly. He was about to ask if everything was okay but he was rendered momentarily speechless by an achingly familiar voice on the line.
"Who is this?"
Sam was surprised by the vehemence in Mercedes' tone. He knew she was angry and confused but she sounded like she hated whoever was on the other end of the phone.
"Mercedes, this is Sam. Baby, you need to listen to-"
Click.
Sam sighed heavily before pulling the silent phone from his ear. There had been a part of him that was still holding out hope that Mercedes would calm down and come back to New York and talk things out with him but it had just died a quick, fiery death with the click of the phone. Mercedes was angry, hurt, and stubborn and in this situation it was a very dangerous combination. Even though the idea was disheartening for the first time in five days Sam had his first sign of hope. With a slight smile Sam picked up his cell phone again and scrolled through his contacts until he found the name of his travel agent.
"Mary? Sam Evans here, I need you to do me a massive favor. I need a flight tonight."
"Ok, sir!" Came the excited voice on the other line, "where to this time? Barbados, Paris, London?"
"Ohio."
"Ohi—I'm sorry sir, I think I misunderstood you. Where do you need a flight to?"
"Ohio. Lima, Ohio, to be exact but since I know they don't have an airport there I need you to get me as close as humanly possible."
"Uh...okay, sir. And how fast did you say you needed this booked?"
"Immediately. I have to be in Lima as soon as possible."
"Ok, Mr. Evans, I'll see what I can do."
PRESENT DAY
"She somehow managed to squeeze me on a flight to Dayton at the very last minute. I barely had time to get to the airpor. I rented a car and ignored every speed limit sign posted. I'm still surprised I didn't get stopped. I made it to your mom's in the wee hours of the morning but I knew the second I saw her face that I missed you. She was devastated."
Mercedes wiped at the tears slowly trickling down her face as she listened to Sam finish his story.
"I stayed with her for a few days hoping that maybe you'd call and give a hint to where you had gone to next but you never did. Finally I decided to come back home and wait."
Sam glanced over at Mercedes again and his heart clenched painfully at the tortured expression on her face. Telling the story was hard for him and he figured it was ten times worse for her to hear about the pain and sadness she left in her wake.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, "I feel like I can say it a thousand times and it still won't be enough."
"It's just all so fresh, Mercedes. You have to give it time."
"I know," she sniffled, "but the things I said to my Mom—I hurt her, and no amount of time is going to change that!"
Sam opened his mouth to speak but he didn't really know what to say. He didn't know all the details but he had a pretty firm understanding of what went down between Mercedes and her mother before she left may never be fully resolved. The love was still there without a doubt, but there was also an underlying bitterness on both sides that would only fester if it were ignored.
"You two have to talk—about everything. You held on to your issues about your Dad for years, Mercedes. Your mom was completely blindsided by the whole thing! She kept some semblance of a relationship with your dad for you, not for her. She hated him, but you idolized him so she put up with him coming in and out of your life. She didn't want you to hate her for keeping you away from your father."
"I thought..." Mercedes began weakly.
"She knows what you thought and I do too." He snapped as he could feel that old anger start to rise in his chest again, "did you really think I would have done that to you and our baby? Even if what you thought about me and Quinn was true did you really have such a low opinion of me that you would think I would completely disregard my child?"
"I...I...no, I don't have a low opinion of you...but at the time...I don't know..." she finished pathetically.
Sam shook his head angrily as he scanned the access road they were on in search of a suitable hotel to stay for the night. They had made it into South Carolina and Sam was tired—bone tired. He probably could have driven a couple more hours but the stress of the reliving the old memories of Mercedes had taken its toll. He spotted a Radisson and breathed a sigh of relief internally.
"Is this okay for the night?" He asked as he slowed down to turn into the parking lot.
"Yeah, it's fine."
Sam pulled up to the valet and quickly handed his keys off to the attendant. He went into the trunk and grabbed his small carry-on and one of Mercedes' suitcases. Once inside he stepped up to the counter and asked for two rooms with king beds next to each other."
"Ummmm..."
"Yes?" Sam snapped impatiently.
"Sir, there is a large convention in town this week and—"
"And you're fully booked?"
"No, but I don't think I'll be able to get you two rooms right next to each other. I can do two rooms on separate floors—"
"No!" Sam said loudly before he could stop himself. Even though Mercedes knew the whole story there was still a part of him that didn't trust her not to leave at the first opportunity. He knew that being next door didn't guarantee he would know if she did decide to leave but he felt better about than her being an entire floor away from him.
The woman behind the counter gave him a strange look before turning her attention back to her computer and he could feel Mercedes' eyes burning a hole in the back of his head.
"I apologize Sir, but it appears all we have available are rooms with single King beds but none of them are on the same floor."
"Do you have any rooms with two Queens?"
"No, sir, only single kings. We have another Radisson in town that might be able to fulfill your request. If you wait just one moment I can contact—"
"There's no need." Mercedes interrupted, "we'll take one of the rooms with the king bed."
The woman behind the counter looked to Sam for confirmation and he nodded slightly. He turned towards Mercedes and said, "Are you sure?"
"We've slept in the same bed before Sam, it's not that big of a deal...at least not to me."
Sam finally noticed the slight sheen to Mercedes' eyes and he cursed under his breath. He had hurt her feelings and regardless of his own anger it was the last thing he wanted to do. This road trip was proving to not be the great idea he once thought it was.
"Mercedes, I didn't mean—"
"It's not a big deal," she cut him off, "I get it and I don't blame you."
"Mercedes—"
"She's waiting on your credit card." She said coolly before turning her back and walking towards a couch to sit down.
Sam sighed heavily for about the millionth time that day before reaching into his wallet and pulling out his black American Express card. The woman's eyes widened slightly before a bright smile crossed her face,
"Welcome to the Radisson, Mr. Evans!"
An hour and half later after they had both showered, changed and ate a light dinner from room service they sat on the bed facing each other. Sam's back was against the headboard and Mercedes sat across from him with her legs crossed. She picked at the hem of an old college t-shirt of Sam's that had seen better days. Even through all the anger and feeling of betrayal is still warmed his heart a little bit to see Mercedes lounging in his clothes.
"Is it wrong that I hate your brother?" Mercedes asked quietly.
Sam raised his eyebrows at her question because it was the last thing he ever expected to hear.
"I mean...I guess I don't hate him hate him, but just thinking about him makes me so angry. I know ultimately the decisions I made are mine alone but...if he hadn't been there, if he hadn't said those things...I wouldn't have left."
Sam tried to tamp down his ever present anger with Mercedes' announcement. He always believed it was true to actually hear Mercedes confirm it had that always bubbling rage trying to fight it's way to the surface.
"Why wouldn't you just talk to me?" He asked through clenched teeth. "One phone call, Mercedes. One fucking phone call! I would have explained everything! Every question you had I would have answered it!"
"I'm sorry Sam! I was upset and—"
"That's not an excuse!"
"You're right," Mercedes said quietly, "you're right and I was wrong. I'm sorry."
Sam gazed at Mercedes bowed head and he felt some of his anger drain away. He was tired of fighting, he was tired of being mad all the time. He wanted things to be normal again. He wanted the most stressful thing in his life to be picking out at color for the nursery or worrying about which parenting books he should read before the baby gets here. He was done with being miserable but until he and Mercedes got all of their skeletons out of the closet, miserable is exactly what they would be.
"You don't have to worry about Stevie anymore...or Quinn for that matter." Sam said after a long stretch of silence.
"Why is that?"
"Well..."
10 WEEKS AGO
"Um, Mr. Evans? You have two visitors here to see you."
Sam lifted his head from his desk and stared angrily and the offensive black box that had the offensive, nasally voice coming out of it.
"So?"
"Can...can I send them in?"
"Pam? It's Pam right?"
"Uh..no, actually I'm Sarah, Pam was here yesterday I believe."
"Why is she not here today?"
"Um...if I'm not mistaken I think you fired her, sir."
Sam racked his brain but he couldn't remember firing Pam but then again he could barely recall what Pam even looked like so he figured anything was possible.
"Fine, whatever just send them in. And go get me some coffee."
"How do you like it, sir?"
Sam clenched his teeth as he reined in the urge to scream at his worthless and apparently new assistant. Pam or Sarah or whatever-her-name-was not knowing the way he liked his coffee just reminded him of someone that did and thinking of her was something he tried to avoid at all costs nowadays.
"Just plain black. Can you handle that?"
"Yes, sir" came the slightly choked response.
Sam rolled his eyes and cursed under his breath. He really didn't know why he bothered anymore. He grimaced at the sudden pounding in his head and searched in the top drawers of his desk for some aspirin. The way his day had gone so far he figured there was no way in hell it could possibly get any worse.
He was dead wrong.
A few seconds after locating a bottle of aspirin in his desk Sam looked up to find his brother strolling into his office hand and hand with Quinn Fabray.
Sam stared in shock as aspirin after aspirin rolled out of the open bottle and onto his hand. Despite the numbness spreading through his body he could feel the small tap of ever pill that bounced off his hand before hitting his desk.
"Sam!" Quinn called out worriedly, "you're pouring pills out everywhere! Are you okay?"
Quinn's shrill voice knocked Sam out of his numb state and he stared at her in disbelief, "am I okay? Am I fucking okay? How can you ask me that?"
"Whoa, don't speak to my wife like that." Stevie barked out.
"I'm sorry, your who?"
"His wife!" Quinn smiled widely as she waved her left hand in Sam's shocked face. "I know it's all sudden but Stevie showed up on my doorstep a week ago and told me that he had seen the error of is ways and he had you to thank for it. He told me that he loved me and our baby and he wanted us to be a family! We flew out to Vegas that night and we were married. I know it's all fast but this baby is coming soon, I was pushing it flying while I was this far along but it was worth it! We're going to be a little family soon and we have you to thank for it. I can't tell you how much it means to me that we have your blessing."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Sam growled. "How can you be so stupid?"
"Wha—" Quinn squawked out in surprise, "what do you mean?"
"In what world would I ever give the two of you my blessing?"
"But Stevie said—"
"STEVIE FUCKING LIED TO YOU!" Sam roared.
"Watch it Sam,"
"Shut the fuck up Stevie...I can't believe you. I knew you were low but this even low for you."
"What is he talking about Stevie?" Quinn asked suspiciously.
"What? He didn't tell you?" Sam asked tauntingly, "I cut Stevie off, he doesn't get shit except for the little bit of money he earned for sporadically working at Evans and Evans."
"No, he didn't tell me but it doesn't matter because I have money so we'll be okay."
"Exactly, idiot. I cut Stevie off two weeks ago, and suddenly a week later he has a complete change of heart and decides he wants to live happily ever after with you?"
"It's possible—"
"It is not possible! Let me guess, after what I'm sure was an epically romantic proposal he decided to whisk you off to Vegas so that you could be married immediately, right?"
"Right...so?"
"So, no prenup right?"
"Right..." Quinn's voice trailed off as the point Sam was trying to make finally sank in. She turned hurt, begging eyes to Stevie and Sam prayed that for once his brother would grow a pair and do the right thing.
"Don't listen to him baby," Stevie said to Quinn in a soothing voice, "I did have a change of heart but it wasn't because of the money. I want a family...I want it with you. I'm tired of being alone. I want to share my life with you and this baby and all the babies we have in the future."
Sam watched in disbelief as the angry glint melted from Quinn's gaze as she listened to Stevie's contrived words.
"You have got to be fucking kidding me!" Sam shouted, "how can you be this fucking gullible, Quinn?"
"I'm sorry that this hurts you, I know seeing me and Stevie happy together might be hard for you considering what happened between you and Mercedes."
"Shut up." Sam said in a low, dangerous voice. "Not one word, I don't want to hear a fucking word either of you have to say about Mercedes. I wouldn't have been in this fucking situation if it had been for the two of you!"
Quinn's eyes shone brightly with tears and she looked up at Sam with a pleading look in her face that he remembered so well.
"Please don't be like this, I want our son to know his uncle, please don't turn your back on him." Sam considered relenting but Quinn's next words had him seeing red. "Besides, given the circumstances there is no telling when you will see your own child, so being around our baby could be a good thing—"
"GET OUT!"
Quinn jumped at Sam's bellow and she looked at Stevie with wide, frightened eyes, "Get the fuck out of my office and out of my life! I don't care if I see either of you ever again. If you're dumb enough to actually believe that Stevie loves you or that baby Quinn they you deserve whatever you have coming. The only thing I can hope for at this point is that your child somehow doesn't turn out like either one of you."
Quinn blinked rapidly before spinning on her heel and leaving Sam's office without another word. Stevie stood in the doorway and gave his brother one long look before giving him a slow, smug smile.
"Have a nice life bro. Give Mercedes my love...oh wait, you can't can you?
"Fuck off, Stevie."
Stevie's blue eyes held his brother's green eyes a moment longer before he gave a two-finger salute and walked out the door.
PRESENT DAY
"I haven't seen or heard from either one of them since."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be, I'm not. Stevie and Quinn have been poison in my life for years, I'm glad to be rid of them."
"Yeah, but poison or not, he's still your brother and she's carrying your nephew."
"That's the only hard part, I hate knowing that I'll probably never know my nephew but if it means never having to see his parents again then it's worth it. I know that's horrible to say, but I can't—I can't have those two in my life or my child's life."
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For proving to me over and over again that you're a better man than my father ever was. He would have never done that for me."
"I promise I'll never stop doing that."
Mercedes smile sweetly at him before crawling forward and getting under the pulled down covers. Sam made sure they had a respectable distance between them before telling Mercedes good night and lying down. Sam listened to Mercedes soft breathing even out and within minutes he had fallen into a deep sleep.
The next morning Sam woke to find the bed empty beside him. He spread his arm to the spot beside him and found the sheets were cool. He jumped up in a panic and looked around wildly. He looked on the bedside table to find his cell phone and wallet but the keys were gone. He grabbed his pants and jerked them on over his boxers before rushing towards the door. He reached to grab the door handle but had to step back quickly instead to avoid being hit in the face with the door.
"Oh!" Mercedes yelped in surprise when she saw Sam standing in the doorway, "what are you doing?" she asked laughing nervously.
"Where have you been?" Sam asked in a loud, shaky voice.
The smile on Mercedes' face disappeared as she stared at Sam's crazed look. She held up a white bag with IHOP written on the side.
"I woke up craving pancakes and I didn't want to wake you up because I knew you were tired from driving all day yesterday. We drove past an IHOP on our way here yesterday so I figured I'd just run over and pick us up something so we could eat here. I've only been gone for about half an hour." She finished quietly.
"I'm sorry, I just thought..."
"I know what you thought. It's okay, I deserve it."
"Mercedes—"
"It's okay," she said in a tone that clearly meant that subject was closed. "I got you that chicken fajita omelet you like so much."
"Thank you."
Mercedes nodded slightly before turning her attention to the food. Sam opened his mouth to speak but he thought better of it. The day had barely started and already they were off to the wrong foot. As Sam accepted the warm Styrofoam container that held his food he hoped that their day would get better instead of worse.
An hour and half later they were back on the road and Sam decided that in order to get things right between them they had to keep talking. Since things had started off a little rocky between them Sam decided to start with something relatively safe.
"So, have you thought of any baby names yet?"
Mercedes seemed a little shocked that he was talking to her but it quickly gave way to a small smile. "Yeah, I've thought of a couple girl names."
"You think it's going to be a girl?"
"I'm not sure but girl's names just came easy to me. Besides when I thought of boy's name all I could think of was..." She trailed off.
"What?"
"Quinn's sonogram. I used to have dreams about asking you what you thought for a boy's name and you'd always suggest Sean Elijah Evans so it would have initials just like his daddy." She shuddered slightly, "Needless to say I couldn't unsee it so I was never able to think of a boy's name."
"Well, we'll think of something, okay?"
"Okay."
"Sooooo...what girl's names do you have?"
"Well, two so far that I really like. First one is Aundrea."
"That's nice."
"And the second one is Gabrielle."
Sam's face blanched at the name but he quickly tried to recover, "hmmm" he murmured noncommittally.
"Hmmm? What, you don't like it?"
"It's not that I don't like it, it's just it reminds me of someone."
"Who?"
"You remember Matt , right?"
"Yes." Mercedes grimaced, "How could I forget Cryptic Matt?"
"Well..."
6 WEEKS AGO
"Mr. Evans you have a visitor that would like to see you."
"Oh, for fuck's sake!" Sam yelled, "Alicia, who is it?"
"Uh, my name is Allison and the man says he's an old friend of yours but he won't give me his name. Should I call security?"
"No...just let him in." He murmured tiredly. Sam put his face in his hands and rubbed his hands over the 3-day old scruff that was on his face. He knew he needed to shave but he couldn't bring himself to care enough to do it. He knew he needed to do a lot of things but the motivation simply wasn't there.
The door to his office swung open and he groaned loudly when he saw who walked through the door.
"Well, you look like shit Evans."
"I'm not in the mood to deal with you today, Matt. We can play your little mind games some other time, but not today."
"I didn't come here to have a girl talk with you Sam, I came to see."
"Came to see what?"
"I recently spoke with your brother, congrats on the new sister-in-law by the way, and he told me that you were currently scraping rock bottom and I just had to come see it for myself."
"If you came to gloat about Stevie being with Quinn, then you're a day late and a dollar short as usual because I couldn't give a damn about them being together."
"Though I did get quite a laugh at how that went down, no, that's not why I'm here to gloat—not about that anyway."
"Then what?"
"How's Mercedes?"
"Don't." Sam snapped, "not today, not about her."
"What's the matter Sam, don't like having someone ripped away from you because of somebody else's carelessness? Sucks, doesn't it. It fucking hurts, doesn't it?"
"What the fuck are you talking about?"
"Mercedes was smart, I'll give her that," Matt continued on as if he hadn't heard Sam, "I thought for sure she would be dumb enough to fall for your bullshit and stick around, but she didn't. Good for her."
"What do you want, Matt?"
"I wanted to see it...no, I needed to see you at your lowest. For years I have waited for the day, waited for the day you realized how much it hurt to lose the person you love the most. I always wanted to be the one that brought you to this place but ironically enough Stevie beat me to it. But considering how much you fucked his life up I guess it's only fair that he got to be the one to do it. I guess I'll just have to be content with seeing how far you've fallen. It's a beautiful sight, I must say."
"Fuck off, Matt. What in the hell have I ever done to you that was so bad that you feel the need to revel in my misery?"
"Gabrielle," Matt hissed, "do you even fucking remember?"
"Gaby? From college? We messed around for a bit, but it was nothing seriou—wait, she's what this is about?" Sam gave a harsh laugh, "so basically you've been holding on to a grudge for years over nothing?"
"She was not nothing! Just because she didn't mean shit to you doesn't mean anything. She was everything to me!"
"And your were less than nothing to her." Sam said cruelly, "you think she didn't know about your little infatuation? You couldn't have been more obvious if you tried. She wasn't interested. Get that through your thick fucking skull. She. Didn't. Want. You."
"You're lying."
"You wish. Yeah, me and Gaby screwed around but it was a mutual thing and once it was over we parted ways amicably. She left town because she got a great job offer. She didn't go running into your arms because one, there was no reason to and two because she wasn't fucking interested. There was no torrid affair and nobody got tossed to the side. We were two adults, who were attracted to each other and we made a consensual decision to have a sexual relationship. The end. The rest of it you made up in your head as some way to feel justified in hating me for getting something that you couldn't."
"I don't give a fuck what you say, it still doesn't change the fact that you're a heartless bastard. You knew how I felt about Gabrielle and instead of being a good friend you completely disregarded my feelings and went after her anyway."
"Boo-fucking-hoo, Matt. She was a grown ass woman and she made a decision."
"Like Mercedes?" Matt asked coldly.
"Shut the fuck up."
"What? You can dish it out but you can't take it, huh? Mercedes deserves better than you and I'm glad she got away. I hope for her sake she has enough sense to never come back."
Sam's heart clenched painfully at the words and he raised dull eyes up to Matt's.
"Get your pathetic ass out of my office. I sincerely hope I never see you again."
"Likewise."
PRESENT DAY
"So that's a no on Gabrielle?" Mercedes deadpanned.
"Yeah..." Sam responded with a laugh.
"I would tell you that I'm sorry about your friend, but I'm really not. Matt was nothing but trouble, clearly. I mean, who holds a grudge that long over nothing?"
"Beats me. I'm just glad it's out in the open. I was so sick of trying to figure out what imaginary wrong I committed against him. With the way he was acting I was actually worried for a minute that I had actually done something to him."
"I will miss his riddles though..."
"Yeah, me too."
For the first time in days the interior of the tiny car rang with laughter.
A couple hours later after a quick lunch at a tiny diner Sam decided to bring up the subject of baby names again.
"So, we have no boy's names, and Gabrielle is out so that just leaves with one name for our child?"
"So far? Yes. I'll admit I suck at this whole name thing, but if you have a suggestion I would love to hear it."
"As a matter of fact I do."
"Really? Boy or girl?"
"Girl."
"Before you even say anything, please tell me it's not the name of girl you messed around with in the past?"
"No!" Sam said, slightly offended, "I would not name my daughter after some random woman I screwed around with.
"Good...just checking. So, what is it?"
"Lilliana."
"Lilliana? I actually really like that. Where did it come from?"
"My mother."
2 WEEKS AGO
LILY ANN EVANS
LOVING WIFE AND MOTHER
THE WIND BENEATH OUR WINGS
Sam stared down at his mother's tombstone with bright tears shining in his eyes. The last time he had been to this grave was when his father was being laid to rest next to her. He spared a glance at the large granite tombstone that was at the head of his father's grave before turning his attention back to his mother's smaller, more demure one. He bent over and laid down the bouquet of lilies on his mother grave. They were her favorite flower and he smiled thinking about how she would always say, "My name is Lily so it would be a crime against nature for lilies not to be my favorite flower."
Once Sam carefully placed the flowers on the grave he brought his right hand up to the tombstone and rubbed his finger gently across the name.
"Hey mom," he said in a choked voice, "Um...I know it's been a long time but I...damn it." Sam muttered as he found it difficult to get the words past his tight throat. "I don't have any excuse for not coming but I just...I hate coming here and being reminded that you're gone. That I can't talk to you, or see your face, or hear your voice. I need you...I need your help. I need you to tell me it's going to be okay. I miss you...I miss her..."His voice cracked, "I fell in love, can you believe that? You would really like her, she reminds me of you so much. She got this amazing smile and laugh, and she's got this great spirit...at least she did before all this broke her. I want to hate her, it would make my life so much easier if I could but I can't. She's pregnant...I'm going to be a Dad, can you believe that?" He asked again, "I remember how you used to talk about wanting grandkids, well now you've got two coming. I really wish you were here to meet them. I just wish you were here, period. Everything started falling apart after you died and it hasn't been stopped since. It's just been one thing after the other." He sighed heavily before looking around at all the tombstones surrounding him. "I hate this! I need to see your face and hear your voice. I need you!" He lashed out angrily, "I need some guidance, I need to figure out how to fix this. Help me, mom...I don't know where else to turn to. How can I fix this? I don't know where she is! I don't know where my baby is! I don't even know if there is a baby anymore." He finished sadly.
Sam rubbed at his tired eyes roughly. "I know I screwed up but do I really deserve this? I think about her all the time, I worry about her the time. I worry about her all day, every day. I can't sleep, I can't eat. Being without her...it's killing me."
Sam sat down heavily on his mother's grave and stared intently at his mother's grave. "I need help mom," he whispered, "Please help me."
Sam pulled his knees up and laid his head down on them. He didn't know how long he sat there but it wasn't too long before he heard a timid, "Sam?"
Sam looked up to find his former red-headed assistant weighed down with two huge bouquets of flowers and watching him quizzically.
"What are you doing here Sam? I thought you didn't come here?"
"I don't but I needed a little adivce." He gave Emma a small crooked smile.
She gave him a gentle smile back before asking, "did you get what you needed?"
His smile quickly evaporated, "No, this was stupid," he said gruffly, "what can my dead mother possibly tell me about my pregnant girlfriend leaving me?"
"Wait...what? Mercedes? Mercedes is pregnant? How far? When? It's yours?" Emma sputtered out.
"Yes, she's pregnant. Yes, it's mine and she's only a couple of months."
"Oh my God!" Emma squealed happily before launching herself in Sam's arms, he hugged her back and couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm.
"I knew it! I knew it! I knew when I saw the two of you together at the hospital that you had something special! Where is she so I can congratulate her?"
Sam's features immediately tightened at Emma's question but she didn't see it because she was too busy scanning the graveyard as if she expected Mercedes to pop up from behind a tombstone.
"I don't know," Sam answered gruffly forcing Emma's perusal of the graveyard to stop.
"What do you mean you don't know? You mean right now?"
"No, Emma not just right now. I haven't known where Mercedes has been for the last 2 months."
Emma's mouth gaped open and her already impossibly big eyes got even bigger.
"What happened?"
"Quinn...Stevie...Me..."
"Quinn? Quinn Fabray? What does she have to do with anything?"
"She's pregnant and Stevie's the father."
"WHAT?" Emma screeched and Sam looked around and felt the overwhelming need to shush Emma for disturbing the dead.
"Quinn and Stevie? Your ex-fiancé and your brother?"
"Emma, calm down and quit screaming!"
"Calm down? How can I possibly calm down? Wait—wait a minute, why are you so calm?"
"I've had time to come to peace with it, besides I have bigger things to worry about."
"Like Mercedes?"
"Like Mercedes."
"What does Quinn and Stevie getting together," Emma shudders as she says their names, "have to do with Mercedes?"
"Long story short, it was one big clusterfuck where Mercedes thought Quinn's baby was mine. Quinn had been after Stevie to claim their baby and I decided to help so that she would get out of my hair. Stevie didn't' take to kindly to my 'interference' so the first chance he got to ruin what I had with Mercedes he took it. He told her that his baby was actually my baby and me and Quinn were planning on living happily ever after together."
"No, Mercedes smarter than that. She would never buy that."
"She can and she did. She may be smart but she also has a ton of insecurities and Stevie managed to hit on every single one of them in on single fucking conversation. I was in LA when it happened and when I came back the next day she was gone."
"Oh, Sam..."
"She packed up everything and took whatever she could cram into her car to her mother's. It took me five days to find out where she was but by the time I got there she was gone. Once she left her mother's none of us heard from her again."
"Nobody...really?" You sure about that?"
"Yes, her mother is going out of her mind with worry. So am I. I can understand Mercedes ignoring me, but I can't understand her not contacting her mother or Kurt."
"Mmm-hmmm," Emma murmured evasively and Sam watched her suspiciously.
"Have you talked to her?"
"No. The last time we talked was a couple weeks after the baby was born."
"Oh," Sam said, deflated.
"But, I may have an idea about where she might be."
"What? How?"
"I didn't think much about it at the time but now I'm thinking she was talking about Mercedes."
"Who?"
"My obstetrician."
"Umm, what does your obstetrician have to do with this?" Sam asked uncomfortably.
"She told me that she wrote a recommendation letter for my friend. I had Liam with me that day and he was being extra fussy so I wasn't paying too much attention. In fact, I remember zoning out because I thought that given where she said she faxed the letter it couldn't possibly be one of my friends she was talking about anyway."
"Where?" Sam asked as his excitement built.
"Miami...she faxed the letter to some doctor's office in Miami, Florida."
PRESENT DAY
"So that's how you found me?" Mercedes asked, "Emma?"
"Yeah, ironic huh? She's the one that brought us together in the first place so I guess it's only fitting that she be the one that brought us together a second time."
"Wow...that's crazy."
"Tell me about it. I racked my brain for weeks trying to figure out where you had gone and the answer was just a phone call away the whole time and I didn't even know it."
"I'm sorry—"
"Don't." Sam cut Mercedes off before she could apologize again. "It's okay...really, we're going to be okay."
"Do you really think so, after everything?"
"Yeah...I do."
Mercedes eyes brimmed with tears but a huge, beautiful smile graced her face.
"I think so too."
Hours later Sam rubbed his tired eyes as he squinted to see the road. They were about an half an hour away from Washington D.C. but Sam couldn't drive another mile. Mercedes had fallen asleep 45 minutes earlier and her soft breathing had started to lull him sleep. After almost running off the road for the third time Sam finally decided to give up and find a hotel for the night. He came across a newly built LaQuinta and even though it wasn't one of the 5 star hotels he was used to staying it looked like heaven on earth to him at the moment. Almost half an hour later he managed to get two bags and a very groggy Mercedes into their room.
"Do you want to take your shower first?"
"Hmmmm..." Mercedes moaned slightly as she crawled into the bed and snuggled into the pillow.
"So I'm guessing that's a no, right?" Sam chuckled lightly as another muffled moan came from the bed.
After a quick shower Sam crawled into bed next to a now pajama-clad Mercedes. He stared at her still form for a long minute before leaning over and placing a tender kiss to her forehead.
"Goodnight baby..."
The next morning Sam woke to an empty bed once again. The bubble of panic threatened to choke him but he instantly calmed down when he heard the shower running. A couple minutes later the shower shut off and almost immediately after Mercedes came sauntering out of the bathroom dripping wet with a too-small towel wrapped around her. She went over to her bag and started rummaging through it for some clothes to wear. Sam couldn't help but enjoy the view as the white towel inched up higher and higher as she bent over the bag. Mercedes quickly grabbed what she needed and straightened up much to Sam's disappointment. She whirled around and let out a loud startled yelp when she noticed Sam watching her.
"You're awake?"
Sam gave a slight nod before his lip widened into a sly smile.
"Uh...sorry if I woke you. I should have just taken clothes in the bathroom with me, I wasn't thinking."
"It's okay Mercedes, trust me I didn't mind. At all."
Sam watched as Mercedes swallowed hard after that comment. He tried to bite back his smile but it was hard to do. Even though things weren't completely back to normal for the first time in months he felt as if a burden had been lifted off his chest. He missed her, he missed the way she made him feel. He missed them. After their talk yesterday about his mother something had changed between them. They weren't back to normal but they were a hell of a lot closer than they had been in weeks.
"Um, I'm going to go get dressed, okay?" Mercedes quiet voice broke Sam out of his reverie.
"Yeah, sure, take your time. You want breakfast? I think they have a free hot breakfast here I could go grab some stuff."
"That sound good."
"What do you want?"
"Surprise me..." Mercedes gave Sam a wink and a smile before going into the bathroom and closing the door behind her.
"You should have never said that..." Sam thought to himself.
Twenty minutes later Mercedes stared in shock at all the items on the small desk in the room. There were five different types of cereal, five cartons of milk, four different types of juice, three different types of bagels, a plate full of bacon, sausage, and eggs and a huge waffle.
"Sam! I said surprise me, not bring the whole buffet back upstairs with you!"
"Pfft...it's not the whole buffet, there are still some raisin bagels down there that I didn't get but I only did that because I know you hate raisins."
"Sam, you're completely crazy, you know that right?" Mercedes asked shaking her head.
"It's not crazy to look after the mother of my child, is it?" He asked softly.
"No...it isn't."
"Good!" Sam smiled, "let's dig in!"
Once Mercedes and Sam had filled their plates that Sam had swiped from the dining room they sat cross-legged on the bed facing each other.
"Finish the story," Mercedes pleaded, "I want to know what happened next."
"Alright, I'll finish it. So after finding out that you were more than likely in Miami I immediately called your mom. Miami seemed too random of a place for you to just choose to go to so I figured you must have known someone there. Your mom agreed but she couldn't think of anybody that you knew that lived in Miami. I remember feeling so low that day because I had just been on the biggest high thinking I found you to hitting rock bottom again because it was clear I wasn't any closer to finding then I had been before. I just remember wanting to get home and drown my troubles in the first bottle of whiskey that I could find...I just didn't care anymore."
"Oh, Sam—" Mercedes said sadly but Sam held up a hand and cut her off.
"I remember I was in the elevator on my when I got the call. I don't think I'll ever forget that shrill voice for as long as I live...
2 WEEKS AGO
"Hello?"
"Sam? This is Sam right...this is the right number isn't it? Sam!?"
"What? Who the hell is this and why are you screeching?"
There was silence on the other line before Sam heard a voice that had magically dropped about three octaves.
"Okay, first of all it's Kurt. Secondly, I do not screech. Third, I was calling to help you find Mercy but if you want to be an asshole then you can find her yourself, which you won't because clearly you suck at it."
Sam gritted his teeth together to prevent himself from snapping at Kurt. He knew all too well that Mercedes' best friend had no problem whatsoever keeping all kinds of pertinent information to himself if he was pushed and Sam wasn't trying to risk it.
"I'm sorry Kurt...could you please help me? I would greatly appreciate it." Sam asked through clenched teeth.
"That's better." Kurt huffed, "I just got off the phone with Marilyn and she told me about what Emma told you."
"Yeah? She did she also tell you that even with that info we aren't any closer to finding her than we were weeks ago?" Sam could feel the frustration building up inside him all over again. "I don't know anybody she would know in Miami and Marilyn doesn't know either! It' a huge city, we're never going to find her—"
"I know where she is."
"What? How do you...how long have you known!"
"Calm down, Sam I just figured it out. I'm not a 100% but I am about 99.9% that I know who she's with down there."
"Who?"
"A girl we went to high school with. Marilyn knew her but she would never think that she and Mercedes would be close because they pretty much hated each other through most of high school. They didn't become close until the last few months of our senior year."
"Her name?" Sam snapped rudely, he wasn't in the mood to go down memory lane with Kurt. "What's her name?"
"Santana. Her name is Santana Lopez."
PRESENT DAY
"So Santana told you where I was?" Mercedes asked in surprise.
"Yep, I'll admit it wasn't easy but I finally got her to give up the goods." Sam smiled at her before turning his attention back to the road.
Mercedes sat back in the passenger seat and looked at Sam in amazement. "I have to give it up to you Santana is not an easy nut to crack. How'd you do it?"
"Well..."
1 WEEK AGO
"Santana? This is Sam Evans...again. I know this is like the 15th time I've called today but yeah...it's kind of urgent so if you could call me back soon, I would be eternally grateful."
Sam groaned in frustration and tossed his phone on the bed beside him. He had been calling Santana non-stop ever since he had gotten the number from Kurt a few days ago. It may have only been about 15 calls today but when he added all the calls together he was pushing 100. He wouldn't be surprised in the least if Santana had put a restraining order out against him. The constant push and pull of getting his hopes up just to have them crushed into a million tiny pieces was wearing on him. Every time he got Santana's voicemail that weight that he thought had been lifted off his shoulder dropped back down harder and stronger than before. He was tired...so damn tired of getting nowhere. Despite everything he loved Mercedes and he missed her and he wanted her back more than anything but was it worth it? He thought about all the stress and all the sleepless nights. He thought about his job that was crumbling before his very eyes. All of his father's hard work going down the drain because Sam couldn't pull himself out of a funk over someone who didn't want to be found. Someone who ran from him and took his child with her. Was it really worth it? Sam didn't want to give up but he just sick and tired of it. He was at his wit's end and without a strand of hope to hang on to Sam was all but ready to let go—
RING! RING!RING!
Sam's head snapped up from the back out of the couch as the shrill ring from his cell phone startled him. He picked it up without even glancing at the caller id.
"What?" He barked into it, not caring who was on the other end.
"What? What kind of an asshole answers the phone "what"? Am I bothering you? I certainly hope so because you've been bothering the shit out me for days!"
"Santana?"
"Yes! Did you not recognize the number? I figured you would have had it burned in your brain by now after you called me a billion times!"
"Uh..." Sam was at a loss for words.
"Uh...nothing." Santana snapped. "You have been blowing my phone up for days so obviously you have something to say so you had better start talking now or I swear to God I'm hanging up this phon—"
"Wait! Just wait, okay?"
"Speak. Now."
"Look, I know I've been bothering you and I'm sorry but I really need to find Mercedes and I think you know where she is."
Sam held his breath as he waited for Santana to respond.
"What makes you think I know where Mercedes is?"
"Because I think she's in Miami and—"
"So? Miami is a big city, hundreds of thousands of people live here. Why me?"
"Because when she left her she was hurt and sad and she needed a friend."
"No, she wasn't hurt or sad, you asshole she was fucking devastated!"
Sam winced at Santana's harsh words but his heart picked up its pace a little bit at Santana's little slip up. Even if Mercedes wasn't with her now she had seen her face to face at some point.
"I need your help."
"No." Santana snapped, "I didn't call you back to help you, I called to let you know that I think you're a prick for doing what you did to Mercedes. I think you're lower than the dirt on the bottom of my shoes and I hope you rot in hell. Mercedes and her baby deserve better than to have a slimy son of a bitch like you in their lives."
"She's still pregnant? She didn't...she didn't get rid of the baby?"
"Of course not!" Santana sounded horrified, "Is that what you wanted? For her to get rid of it? You're even worse than I thought! You sorry, spineless, motherfuc—"
"Hey!" Sam yelled, "that's enough! You can think what you want to about me but you're going to have all the facts first."
"And what exactly are 'the facts' Sam?"
"I don't know what Mercedes told you but I have a pretty good idea so let me get this out of the way first and foremost. Quinn's baby is not mine, it's my brother's. I am not in love with Quinn and I never had any intention of being with her. My crime was that I was stupid enough to get wrapped up and her and my brother's bullshit but that was all. I never cheated and I never wanted anyone other than Mercedes."
Santana was quiet on the other end of the line and Sam could practically hear the wheels spinning in her head.
"Why should I believe you?" Santana asked after a long moment, "how do I know you aren't full of shit?"
"Ask Kurt...ask Mercedes' mom. They know the truth, even if they didn't completely trust me they still stuck around long enough to get the real story." Sam answered bitterly.
"If what you're saying is true—and I'm not saying I believe you—what do you expect to happen now?"
"I'm bringing her home." Sam answered gruffly, "I'm coming down to Miami and I'm bringing her and my baby home."
"And if she won't come? What, are you going to drag back by her hair kicking and screaming?"
"If I have to? Yeah." Sam answered bluntly, "I'm tired of playing around, this bullshit has gone on long enough."
"She's hurt and upset Sam, I wouldn't call it bullshit."
"If she had stuck around long enough for me to explain she wouldn't be hurt and upset!" Sam yelled, "She ran out on me! She didn't trust me or what we had long enough to stick around for five minutes so that I could explain myself! She gave up on me...on us and she took our baby with her and I don't...I don't know if I can ever forgive her for that."
"Wow, the way Mercedes made you sound...I figured you didn't care."
"Didn't care?" Sam scoffed, "All I care about is her and our baby, they're all I think about and it's driving me crazy. Is she...is she okay?"
"No. I mean, not really...she has a job that she goes to every day and she goes through the motions but she's not happy. I've heard her cry more times than I've heard her laugh. She doesn't smile, she isn't happy she's just...there. She misses you, she won't admit it but I can tell."
"Then why hasn't she called me? Or her mother or Kurt? I'm not the only one she's abandoned."
"She's confused and angry and bitter about things that don't even involve you but she can't let them go."
"Are you talking about her Dad? I know what he did, but I'm not him."
"No, you're not and it's not fair for you to be punished for his sins." Santana was quiet for a long moment before she blurted out, "I swear to God if you hurt her I will cut off your dick and feed it to you. ¿Comprende?"
"Yeah...I got you." Sam answered as he squeezed his legs together.
"You got a pen because I'm only going to say this once. I live at 2724 Vista Lane. One week from today come to this address at 5:30 pm. Mercedes comes home every day at the same time like clockwork. I'll make myself busy that day so I won't be around to disturb you guys. You'll have to catch her before she gets in the house because odds are she won't let you in and I will kick your ass if you bust my door down."
"Yes, ma'am," Sam chuckled but sobered quickly with Santana's somber words.
"I'm probably breaking every friend code by helping you, but it's killing me to see her like this. I don't know if you can fix it but she needs some peace and I think you're the only one that can bring it. Don't make me regret this Sam."
"I won't...thank you Santana, from the bottom of my heart, thank you."
PRESENT DAY
"Hey...don't do that." Sam reached across the car's console to wipe at the tears that were falling unchecked down Mercedes' face.
"I'm sorry, I just hate that I caused you so much pain. If I could take it back—"
"Shhhhh...I know. No more looking back okay? All that hurt and anger and pain all of that's in the past, right?"
"Right."
"I don't want to mess this up again," Sam said quietly, "we have to be upfront and honest from now on. If something is bothering us we talk about it then, we don't run, we don't hide, and we don't hold stuff in. Promise?"
Mercedes stuck out her right pinky and grabbed Sam's with it. She brought their fingers to her lips and placed a soft kiss on their joined fingers, "Promise," she whispered.
Sam gulped as the tiny kiss sent electric currents rushing through his body. It was crazy how the smallest caress from Mercedes could make his blood boil. As he rolled to a stop at a stop light he decided to push his luck a little bit and he leaned over and grabbed her face gently in his hands. He pulled her forward and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. Her lips parted and she exhaled slightly and he could feel her warm breath teasing his lips. He gave her one more quick peck before leaning back over to his seat just as the light turned green. He tried to keep the smug grin off his face as he watched the dazed look in her eyes clear up.
"You ready to get this show on the road?" He asked excitedly.
Mercedes smiled over at him and nodded back happily.
"Alright then,NYC here we come!"
Hours later they had finally made their way back to the city. The closer they got the more withdrawn Mercedes seemed to become, finally Sam couldn't take it anymore and he asked, "What's going on Mercedes?"
"It's just that when I left, I genuinely had no intention of ever coming back. I don't have a home or a job all of my stuff is scattered everywhere I just...I have to start all over from scratch!" Sam heard the panicked edge to Mercedes voice and tried to calm her down.
"You have a job, you don't have to worry about that. As far as the house goes, well..."
Sam trailed off as he navigated the streets of the West Village and seconds later he was parking in front of a townhouse.
Mercedes looked around in confusion before asking, "Why are we here? Whose house is this?"
"It's mine, I just closed on it a few days ago, as a matter of fact."
"You bought a townhouse? What about the condo?"
"I still have it, I figured since it's close to work I'd keep it in case I needed to crash."
"Oh...okay. Well, it's gorgeous."
"Wait until you see the inside."
Mercedes smiled at Sam's excitement and hurriedly clambered out of the car. She let him lead her up the stairs and she didn't complain when he put his hands over her eyes. He led her inside and once the door was shut behind them he took his hands off her eyes.
"What do you think?"
Sam watched with bated breath as Mercedes took in her surroundings the 4-bedroom townhouse was impressive in size and it was worth every penny he hastily put down for it. He knew that ultimately the way he went about getting his way in this matter was underhanded and sneaky but he couldn't find it in himself to feel guilty. Especially with the warm feeling he got inside at seeing Mercedes finally home, it made the inevitable meltdown worth it.
He watched her a minute longer as she perused the townhouse and he knew the exact moment when everything started to click for her. When the look of appreciation turned to one of stunned shock, before turning into confusion before finally settling firmly into anger.
"Wha—what the hell...is that my...why in the hell is all my stuff here?" She screeched.
Sam calmly met her furious gaze before smiling down at her and saying the one thing he had wanted to say for weeks.
"Welcome home, Mercedes."