Hey your back" Kurt said hugging Mercy "And he's still intact must be love" he said smiling at Sam "All sorts of people have turned up you must be pretty popular Sam" he finished grabbing Mercy's hand and pulling her into the den
"Everyone Sam and Mercedes is here" Kurt shouted
"Sam" a few people shouted, he looked at Mercy "Hey Sam" he heard focusing on an unfamiliar face coming towards him "It's me don't tell me you've forgotten the love of your life, it's me Janet" she said going in for a hug and took one full on, Sam look at Mercy again
"Oh Janet I didn't recognise you" he said looking at her trying not to make eye contact with Mercy, too many people were watching for the reaction "How's life treating you?" he asked
"Oh I married the love of my life sorry Sam it wasn't you and this" she said pointing to her belly "is our fourth child"
"Congratulations, I hope you're very happy"
"I am actually I married Finn"
"Finn, Finn Hudson?"
"Yeah I'm Janet Hudson"
"Hey that's great is he here?"
"Not yet but he'll be here once he's shut shop, he'll love seeing you, what are you up to"
"Still the music thing as always and I've fallen in love for real this time with Mercy as you heard I'll introduce you to her when I find her she's off with Kurt apparently they're old school friends so their catching up"
"Life is funny isn't it Sam no offence but I really don't know what I loved in you"
"I'm not offended Janet to tell you the truth, now I've found it too, I know I didn't love you either"
"I'm going to get acquainted with Mercy I'll leave you to it" she said walking off towards the patio
"Sam" Jessie called from by the piano "Come on over my man" he said sitting at the piano chair
"Jess what's up man" Sam said looking around for Mercy with no joy
"Babs just stepped off to speak to Jan and your Lady, I think Joe's wife is out there and maybe Jakes Mrs. what's her name again?" he asked Sam
"Don't know Jake mate let alone his wife"
"Jake the Jewish black guy at school younger than us but his Dad was fresh money from Turner Valley" Jessie said
"Oh you mean the dinner lady's daughter Marline or something like that" Sam said
"Yeah something like that he married her"
"What's Joe's wife's name then?" Sam asked looking at Joe and his wife talking
"Oh she's Artie's sister Sugar"
"Yeah that's it, Is Artie here?" Sam asked
"He might turn up with Finn they tend to go everywhere together nowadays" Jessie said
"Okay" Sam said "I'm going to find a drink, back in a bit" and went off in search
Meanwhile on the patio Kurt and Mercy were having a bit of a heart to heart when Babs turned up "Say nothing sweet, these people don't make friends" Kurt said as Babs came close
"Hi Kurt, who's your friend?"
"You know damn well she's not just my friend Babs she's Sam's other half and that's the bit you're interested in" Kurt said
"I probably would have said yes to that what 9 years ago, but I found a man that I loved enough to marry and thoughts of Sam left my head babe, no offence Sam's Lady, like most the bitches around here Sam was only ever an aspiration he didn't sleep around half as much as they make out, he has a nice side" she said sitting down
"How do you know about a nice side, didn't you just want to get it on with him?" Kurt asked
"Everybody wanted on him, he's cute but he's choosy and most of them wasn't his choice, a woman scorned and all that" Babs added
"Yeah for a while everyone was bitching on me because Sam told me he loved me" Janet said as she walked towards them sitting at their table "You might as well hear this from me because everyone has it romanticized, Sam told me he loved me yes we went to our first party, he got real drunk, told me he loved me and I taped it on my mobile after asking him like ten times to say it again. I made out like we were being intimate and people have hated me since for being the one to snag Sam, he never really loved me and I've never told him that" Janet said, leaning towards Mercy to shake her hand "Janet Hudson (nee Soul) very pleased to meet the real woman Sam loves"
"Pleased to meet you Janet, Barbara" Mercy said moving her eyes from one to the other
"Babs please, his Mom calls me Barbara"
"Hi Kurt, knew you'd be out here with the ladies" Kitty said "Babs, Jan" she said as she neared "You all know Marley yeah, Jake's wife"
"Oh yeah young Jake how is he?" Kurt asked
"He's fine thanks, we came out here because we are so fed up with the bitches, why don't they just get married and stop fanning on our husbands always want what they can't have, bringing the true meaning to trailer trash without the trailer" Marley said
"So this is the dishy hubby group" Babs said laughing
"I'm fed up of singing fuck off songs to them and love songs to my hubby there is no fight I'm just wasting my time on them" Kitty said "My Artie's in a wheelchair and they still want him" she finished making Mercy laugh
"Do you sing Mercy?" Janet asked
"Yes quite well actually"
"Let's sing something to celebrate you joining the sexy hubby group when Finn and Artie get here" Janet said looking at Kitty nodding in agreement
"I'm afraid Sam and I aren't married yet so I don't quite qualify"
"I beg to differ Mercy, may I call you Mercy?" Janet asked, Mercy nodded agreement, the last thing she needed was Sam's friends against her "Sam has never, I mean ever, brought a girl home to meet Mom let alone his Mom taken a girl of Sam's out and sassed with her you are it Miss Mercy soon to be Mrs. Evans, I can assure you" she finished
"Plus any fool can see Sam's in love the way he looks at you and talks about you that's just not Sam" Babs said
"I don't know what you've done to him but he's changed for the better" Blaine said walking out towards Kurt "Hubby we have more guests" he said turning to the girls to say "You think your looking after those taken men sitting out here chatting do you? Finn and Art are here trying to get through the door" he said laughing at Jan and Kitty's jumped up to go find their men.
They all went in to find Finn, Sam and Jessie lifting a guy in the air counting down to throw him up and the guy protesting "Put him down now" Kitty shouted and they all looked at each other before putting Artie back in his wheelchair "Haven't you guys grown up yet" she asked watching them laugh, patting Artie on the back, he was laughing too.
"Hey babe you okay?" Sam said as he saw Mercy come through the door making his way over to her "I missed you" he said in her ear as he kissed her forehead
"So Sam's in Love I hear" Finn said
"Yep right again and this is Mercy" he said as the guys stood staring "Mercy" he said getting her attention "This is Finn, Joe, Jake and Jessie, you met him yesterday and Artie all from School crazy guys pay them no mind"
"Hi guys I've been outside talking to your wives, Jan, Babs, Marley, Sugar and Kitty yeah" Mercy said pointing at the partner of each name mentioned
"Yeah you got it" Finn said "Nice to meet you Mercy" he said offering his hand "We'd usually hug but Sam's not like that"
"Not this time guys sorry, jealousy is a bitch" he said hugging her
"Babe I'm gonna sing with the ladies you okay with that?" she asked
"Yeah if that's what you want to do, I'm fine with that" he said "did they treat you right?" he asked as she went to walk away
"Yeah fine, I like them" she said looking around the room, Sam went back to his conversation with the guys "Hey babe" she said getting his attention again as she walked back towards him
"Yeah" he said turning to look at her
"I love you, you know that right" she said smiling at him with her eyes
"I love you more babe and I know you know that" he said kissing her on the lips to a woo from those standing around them
"PDA" Finn said surprised
"I'm going to sing now babe" she said kissing him again and going off to see the others
"Sam's in love" Artie sang as Mercy went out of ear shot
"I ain't ashamed to say it Bro I'm whipped, totally whipped" he said laughing "She's got me and dude, I want her to get me, she's got me like that, I can't even lie to her" he said still laughing
"OK people" Babs shouted over the mic "Same shit different day and I'm getting fed up of it much like all us other women up here leave my damn man alone a word of advice, if he didn't sleep with you before me it is not going to happen get a life and step the fuck off" she finished as Jessie looked on in shock "Hit it" she said to Blaine operating the Music, Kitty & Babs started first as they sung their bits of "Any man of mine' by Shania Twain as the girls danced around enjoying the song and giving the message at the same time, while their men bobbed along happily agreeing when the song asked them to, the men were up on stage dancing with their partners by the end of the song enjoying themselves to the end
"That tore it down babe" Finn said getting Jan off the stage
Sam took Mercy in his arms "Wow I didn't know you were country babe" he laughed everyone was bigging up their wives for a while
"We weren't really singing to them we were just having fun" Jan said shaking her head to everyone that had performed
"That's right fun" Kitty said before they all laughed
They'd settled in with drinks, having general chat and stuff when Babs gave Finn a wink and started the conversation "I think Sam still has a major problem, that Miss Nelson has a Fatal Attraction on him" she announced
"Yes Dude I'd forgotten about her in all the commotion" Finn said to Sam "Last year or the year before we were all at a Christmas do and she came out at midnight with a cut out of you, everyone laughed initially but she still had it in her room in August and talks to it so I don't know man everyone just stays away from her nowadays"
"Including me" Sam laughed "I don't think I even know her"
"Joslyn's daughter you know the help, from the Sylvester ranch" Babs prompted
"Joslyn yeah, but I don't remember a daughter" Sam said "You lot are having me on unless her daughter's like 10 years old" he said laughing
"She's about 8 actually but that paper mannequin really did look like you" Finn said laughing and everybody joined in
"Okay you nearly got me" he smiled looking at a relaxed Mercy's face "I'm going to sing to my lady now, if anyone wants to join me? And sing to theirs that is" giving Mercy a kiss before heading to the stage, filling Blaine in "Finn you got this?" he asked
"I got this" Finn said nodding ready to Blaine, the music started and Finn came out singing "Tonight" by John Legend & Ludacris followed by Sam then Joe and each man took his turn singing through the song as Artie and Jake took on the rap with Sam ending the song
"Sam" Mercy shouted mounting the stage "You've got that look in your eye looks like you're looking at…"
"Heaven" he said "I am" he said kissing her, right there on the stage
"Did you just get back at some girl?" she whispered
"No that was for you" he replied "Believe me?" he asked looking at her blankly
"What kind of question is that? Yeah I do" she said kissing him back "You rock my world Sam Evans" she said looking round to see they were the only ones left on stage
"This party is rocking let's get some line dancing going on up in here" Sam shouted and everyone cheered as he pulled her back and kissed her again before she left the stage
There was a couple of hours where Country took over the party and Sam showed some of his old colours "You're good" she said when he came down from the stage after singing yet another jumpy country song
"I've got one for you will you come up with me so I can sing it to you"
"Wow, what is it with you guys and singing you've done it nearly all night" she asked
"Am I neglecting you?"
"No not at all it's just you sing an awful lot"
"I'd sing all day every day if I could music is my life, after you that is, I do tend to sing all the more when I'm happy" he said walking her up to the Stage
"Hi everyone, yes it's me again but, I know everyone has a good time when I decide to rock up for it, I'll forgive you for clapping" he said laughing as everyone clapped "I've neglected my Lady all night entertaining you while she's been watching so now you can watch me pay attention to her for a change"
"Finn take it away on this one please" he said going over to him to tell his what he wanted to sing and coming back with a chair for Mercy to sit on "My Lady thinks she's the lucky one and I keep telling her no such thing, she doesn't even know how much I love her, I really can't believe my fucking luck, see she doesn't even stop me from swearing" he said laughing with everyone else
"That's because the babies are not here yet" she laughed
"Wow babies, hell that feels good I'm in her future" he said laughing again "Right here goes Mercy this is for you, some Country I want to instil in our babies" he said jiggling his eyes and strumming his guitar as he sang "Stay A Little Longer' by Brothers Osbourne Sam had pulled Mercy up to dance on the second chorus, they were locked together when the band stopped playing, she kissed him as everyone clapped his efforts
"Babe it's time to stop, this is for alone time" she said
"Alone time?" Sam asked "Are we talking next level alone?" he asked again peaked
"Give me some alone time and we'll see"
"I know it's not your just playing with me it's never going to happen at my parent's house" he said laughing "Do you want to sing babe?"
"Alone time" she said looking at him "Anyway I don't do Country music Sam they wouldn't know my stuff"
"I'd like to hear that last song you recorded, then alone time I promise" he said
"Promise?" she asked
"Two then Promise" he replied not waiting for her to answer "ladies and Gentlemen not, I've convinced Mercy to sing us one of her songs I think her voice is amazing and I'm not being bias it really is just listen to this" he said going to the band to give them a rhythm and the backing singers too before telling Mercy to take it away as she went into her rendition of "Have You Ever?" by Brandy as Sam stood like everyone else mesmerised
"Told you" he said as the crowd clapped and cheered when she finished "Want to sing one last one before we leave?"
"No"
"I tried" he smiled at the crowd
"Goodnight folks" they shouted as they left the stage, it took them an extra hour to say their goodbyes to Finn & Jan, Artie & Kitty, Jessie & Babs, Jo & Sugar and Jake & Marley, then there was a tearful goodbye to Blaine and Kurt as they left their best friends behind and went home to Sam's parent's home knowing they were due home the following day.
Once in the car Mercy said "I really enjoyed myself tonight Sam thank you for that, best birthday ever"
"Your birthday? Mercy you should have said something we would have done something special" he said shocked
"We did do something special, we had a great day" she said kissing him
"I was super buzzed you got on with the girls I didn't see that going so well, I think after that I was on cloud nine, it was like the first woman free stress we've had since we got here"
"Sorry for the Janet drama earlier" she told him
"Where did that come from?"
"Apparently you were super drunk when you told her you loved her and she taped it, so you'd believe you said it, but she played you, she told me tonight"
"And for all your romanticizing it, that's all I can remember looking at a phone and cringing at my own words" he said and they both laughed
"Mercy I've said it before and I'll say it again this thing between us is moving mega fast if I wasn't in so deep already I'd be freaking out so I need to tell you something only Blaine and my parents know and of course Bigga but don't freak on me it's not that I've lied I've just neglected to tell you and after our conversation earlier I think I need to come clean"
"Sounds serious" she said as he stopped the car "Looks serious" she said cocking on eye
"The Studio back in LA well Bigga Manages it but"
"Don't tell me your parents own it, I knew this I knew this" she smiled at him
"No not quite, I own it"
"You own it?" Mercy asked "Did you get Bigga to get me there on purpose?"
"What! No, why would I do that? How would I have known you? No, I didn't this; meeting and everything, is genuine" he told her obviously offended
"I think I'm the one that should be flipping here Sam" she looked at him saying, he could see she was ready to blow big time "So you own the studio?"
"And the apartment" he added "And this is going to be the deal breaker and please don't take it any other way but how it's meant but I won't accept any rent from you for it, I'll move out if you want me to, but I'm not accepting any money" he stated
"So what did you take money off those girls for?"
"Because I could I suppose a woman used and abused me and I guess you were right at the time I just did it because I wanted to treat women that way I'm sorry"
"So you're Money then?" she asked
"I was born Money Mercy I can't help that, but I don't take the piss with it if that's what you're asking, what belongs to my parents belongs to them until the day they die and then I suppose it will belong to me I've got good business sense and Bigga is a good friend as well as my Project Manager, we've come a long way together and in some ways he treats me like a son"
"But he keeps you on a clock too"
"He does because I want it that way but if you notice I also do what I want in the studio too"
"What like your own songs and stuff?"
"Yeah like that stuff, look Mercy I really don't want to have to hold anything back from you and I really don't expect you to want to do that either but I have to ask you this one thing please don't let Bigga or anyone at the studio know that you know this, it only works if few people know, I will tell him once we're ready and we're sure of where we need to be in this relationship"
"Is that a doubt about us Sammy?"
"No it was a communication I'm not a single person any more, I believe decisions have to be agreed in a relationship"
"Okay, I'm okay with this so nothing changes for us except you refuse to take rent?"
"Yeah"
"Do you think people will say I'm with you for the money?"
"More than likely when we get married but you knew me and loved me before all these revelations so they can go screw themselves"
"Okay let's go home I mean to your parent's home I need some cuddles"
"You had it right the first time" he smiled starting the car
The next morning there was time for a last spin around town and the ranch before they packed and left for LA late afternoon "Look forward to meeting your family" Rose shouted after them as they drove off. Mercy went stiff for a second she'd had a whole weekend without having to think about her so called family and now it was going to be inevitable wasn't it.
SUNDAY
9 hours later they were sitting in their apartment ready for their hot Chocolate and thinking about bed and what was going to happen in it. They had been very conservative over the weekend being in the family home and all that but now they were in their own place with no one to answer to and a whole lot of restraint to go under. As Mercy settled in to watch the 1972 re-run of Batman with all the fighting captions Sam jumped in the chair beside her after putting the hot drinks on the coffee table.
"So Mercy what Mom said earlier about meeting your family"
"Are we going to tell anyone at work that we're an item?" she asked
"How do you feel about us doing that?"
"I think Bigga will have the most to say, I'm not really friendly with any of the others"
"Okay so we speak to Bigga as soon as we get in tomorrow and the rest can just see it happening yeah?"
"Fine"
"I sense avoidance here, I asked about meeting your family"
"You didn't you made a statement" she said getting up and going to the single chair at the far side of the room
"Well maybe but now I'm asking when are we going to meet your family?" he asked looking at her "and before you answer just remember the conversation we had before you forced me to go see mine"
"When Bigga gives us the time off"
"Okay I can sort that one out"
"What do you mean sort that out get us special treatment like mates' rates" she said laughing
"Once we tell him about us he's going to know I'm serious and if I say my priority is to meet your parents he'll understand time off"
"So when are we looking, I mean my Grandma doesn't even know you exist"
"She will" Sam said laughing
"Grandma is alright it's the other bigots I'm worried about"
"What racism?" Sam asked shocked
"Yeah I don't know how they'll behave and I can only apologise in advance and I will rip anyone a new one that comes at you or me for that matter I can hear it all now" she said rolling her eyes
"Come here" he said calling her over with his head "You need a hug don't stress we'll win them over" he said cuddling her when she got there
"I hope so Sam this; you're important to me and they need to see that"
"It's important to me too and I'm sure between us we can make them see that" he replied kissing her lightly which she soon turned into a heavier kiss, his breath itched as he noticed her hands had started roaming his body, his brain went into overload, he started to roam her body pleasantly surprised she wasn't doing the usual fan off at his touch so he carried on "Mercy" he said, trying to catch his breath between these urgent kisses "Can we take" he panted as she started to kiss his neck, chest and pinch his nipples "The next step" he finally got out
"No" she said before going back to what she was doing
"This is killing me" he said still kissing on her as hard as she was giving it "I need to stop Babe honest I need to stop like now" he said trying to pull away but she was moving with him, she'd pinned him down on the couch straggling him 'this is a classic bitch move' he thought as panic came and he tired to sit up and life her off him, his struggle not a struggle as his mind and his heart was exactly were he wanted to be "You said no right?" he asked looking in her eyes as she still insisted on sitting on him.
"Yeah I said no" she said before she went back to kissing him again just as hard as before
Sam felt her start moving almost rocking on top of him "Did you mean don't fuck you or don't touch you or both?" he said as she kissed his chest and rubbed herself up against his growing erection
"Don't touch my wet and stop talking" she told him barely able to catch her breath she was so excited, Sam started kissing and feeling her boobs on top of her cloths, but he soon went under her top, his need becoming urgent as she moved provocatively on top of him making him move stoke for stroke under her
"Mercy you're going to make me cum in my trouser if you don't stop" He eventually said knowing he was closer to doing that than he was comfortable with
"Penny drops" she said biting his lip as she ground on him harder "I'm nearly there too so you'll have wet patches inside and outside your trousers" she whispered to him
"God that's so fucking, oh God I'm, Mercy I love you" he said grabbing hold of her and holding her down on him as he spurted his load in his trousers
"I love you more Sammy" she said as she flung her head back, arched her back and let out the most erotic sound he'd ever heard "Oh my God I needed that" she said "Sorry about the wet" she said going to get up off him to visit the bathroom
"Stay for a while please" he said holding her on him "That was so random and so fucking hot I don't think that's ever happened to me before, thank you"
"No thank you that was my very first other person orgasm and it meant something because it was with you" she replied they sat for a while before Mercy talked him into letting her go to get cleaned up with the promise that it would happen again within the week
"Can I sleep in your room?" she asked when she came out of the bathroom
"Help yourself I'll be in after the shower"
"Oh and Sam we don't do any of that kind of stuff unless we're together and in agreement promise?"
"What kind of stuff?"
"Masturbation and associated stuff"
"Oh" he looked around the room thinking "Okay Promise" he finally said looking at her "Does that mean you're going to be around a lot?" he asked as she went into his bedroom
"I live here Sam" she shouted back
Sam was in the bathroom laughing at himself he used to be inside girls and have problems getting off and now Mercy comes along and she not only brings him to life but gets him off just by kissing him and feeling him up a bit just the thought of her touching him made me blow, for fuck sake "She is the bomb" he said as he washed off the evidence of her getting him off without actually touching him where he thought he'd need touching. He got his PJ bottoms on and went to his bedroom to find her in his bed "This is a nice feeling" he looked at her saying
"That's a nice visual" she said holding her hand out for him to go to her, they fell asleep in each other's arms and woke up in the same position 6 hours later
MONDAY
"Morning Babe" she heard making her smile because now she knew exactly where she was and that was exactly where she wanted to be
"Morning Sammy" she said bringing a smile to her face and his
"We're facing Bigga today" he reminded her
"Bring it on" she said turning to kiss him before jumping out of bed "I'm tempted to stay in bed all day but I won't because I promised Bigga I'd come back" she said smiling at him as she went to the bathroom
"I've got a song" he said "I'm going to get it run today" he jumped up following her to the bathroom "I didn't even feel that kiss" he said going up behind her at the mirror "Can I have another kiss?" he asked with his puppy dog face on, Mercy didn't answer she just turned and gave him another longer kiss "I'm alive" he said laughing out of the kiss
"Right out, you're not watching my morning rituals" she said shooing him out of the bathroom "Give me fifteen" she said shutting the door behind him
Then it was Sam's turn and she demanded a kiss before leaving him in the bathroom. Eventually they were fed and dressed and ready to leave the house to go to work as usual Sam saw her into the car and they were off to the studio. They sat outside for a short while just getting up some gusto "I don't know why I'm nervous I just met all your family and friends and I wasn't fazed" she looked at him saying "Maybe a kiss will help" which he gave her
"I wished we were home back on that couch" he said making them both smile
"Okay let's go before this visual gets out of hand" she said with a giggle
They left the car and went into the studio holding hands at first but chickened out when they got to the door and let go "We are going to do this aren't we?" he asked
"Yep"
"After you" he said pushing the door open as she walked in "Right now?" he suddenly said, she didn't know where this burst of bravery had come from for him but she was up for it, she nodded a yes so they walked through the main entrance and down the hall to the offices
"I don't think I've ever been this far down this corridor" she said looking into doors as she went he said nothing just kept walking
"Here we are" he eventually said stopping outside the room at the end of the corridor
"Why is he so far away?"
"Because this is his home"
"He lives at the studio?"
"No this is his home" Sam replied to a confused looking Mercy as he knocked on the door
"Come on up Sam" Bigga shouted from behind the door
"How did he know it was you?" Mercy asked as Sam pointed to the cameras above their head and down the corridor before opening the already unlocked door
"Morning; special delivery?" Bigga asked
"Well no not delivery notification" Sam said
"Please do not tell me that I have to take this poor girl back to her family defiled Evans I asked you explicitly not to mess with her I promised her Grandmother for Christ sake" Bigga said not happy
"Not defiled Bigga just dating" Sam said
"No such fucking thing with you" Bigga said to Sam looking vexed "Sorry Amber" he said for swearing
"Biggs I swear this is the real deal I have no intention of defiling her we're in love actually we just came back from Texas where she was very well received and to be fair I didn't think I'd have a problem here with you"
"That's the problem you don't think Sam, you never fucking think" Bigga replied before looking at Mercy again and saying yet again "Sorry Amber" making Sam move uneasily
"I'm going to hold that because I know you're looking at the old Sam from like last week but this guy that's standing in front of you now is a changed man I'm in love Biggs I mean really in love and we both know it's too soon but we're talking the M word already" Sam said before thinking about Mercy's relationship with parents talk and calming things down again "Okay" he said taking a minute to calm down "Just let me prove to you that I mean this just give us a chance to prove this to you"
"If she's still a virgin in a weeks' time that will be proof enough for me" Bigga said looking at Sam as he walked towards Mercy
"How are you, is he treating you right?" Bigga asked
"More than alright, he's a gentleman" Mercy replied making Bigga look at Sam with a smile
"So I guess you two came to tell me you're an item then?"
"Well yeah we thought you at least needed to be told, well you know we live together have done from the first day we met, it's not because we fell into it, we clicked at the Studio and then again at the club we just clicked" Sam said
"I've been to see his family and friends already and we hope to go see my family soon" Mercy said almost excitedly
"I don't think I'd like to be a fly on that particular wall when that shit hits" Bigga said looking at Sam
"Bring it on" Sam said "You know me in the face of adversity" he said looking at Bigga
"I know the next thing you're going to ask is for time off to go to Richmond but, seriously it's going to have to wait two weeks I've booked you up for the Drake and the Heron alternate days and it's big money Sweetheart" Bigga said looking at Mercy with a sorry face
"Two weeks?" Sam asked
"Yeah and you're in some of those because people heard you two together the other night and liked it" he said
"Okay" Sam smiled
"There is a downer though; the Troublemakers are Amber's opening artists, and don't shoot me I didn't know you two were going to hit it off" Bigga said putting his hands up in the air at the come back from that
"Can you just not cancel them and put like someone else there?" Sam asked
"You know what? Its fine" Mercy said, holding her hand up to stop the conversation. Sam went to say something but kept it in and just looked at her with disbelief "So when's the first show?" she asked looking at Sam but talking to Bigga. Bigga looked at Sam whipped all over his face with his smug smile, Sam wasn't' having it so he gave Bigga a fuck you look, Bigga smiled at Sam's silence
"Finally someone that has him under control, I've been waiting for this, pay back's a bitch hey Sam" Bigga said making Mercy realise how her actions looked
"Sorry babe I didn't mean to make you feel like that I'm just getting into work mode, can we keep these two things separate pleaaase?" she said giving him a sexy look and peck on the cheek
"Yeah sure"
"Who the hell is in control in this new relationship?" Bigga asked laughing
"It's not about control Biggs it's about respect" Sam said laughing at him now
"Out of here you two go make me some money, Amber I have a new song for you to try out so go see Puck he'll get everything started until I get there" Bigga said before looking at Sam "And you go do what you do best create another show stopper that makes money"
By the end of the day Sam had a cover song ready for recording and Mercy had recorded a song that Bigga was pleased with. Sam spotted Bigga and Mercy walking through to his booth, their faces lit up when they saw each other "Hi Babe" he said holding his arms out for her as she entered the booth, kissing her right there as everyone looked, firstly at them and then at Bigga
"It's love apparently" Bigga said
"It's got to be love PDA from Sam Evans is not heard of" Puck said laughing
"Leave us alone Dude and yes it's love" Sam said before kissing her again and all she could do was look in his face as he spoke
"You got a song for me?" she asked still staring at him
"Demanding as well?" Puck asked
"She knows what she wants this one" Sam said getting a slap on the arm from her as she laughed
"Song!" Mercy said sternly
"That's my baby" Sam said playfully "come on Dude you can help with this" Sam said to Puck as they entered the recording booth
"It's different to my usual stuff but I feel different so no apologies, this is for M"
"M?" Puck asked
"Amber" Mercy replied not wanting Sam to lie to his friend as Sam started singing a version of 'Breathing' by Jason Derulo to Mercy
"Wow that was so cool I loved it and Sammy I feel the same way we're soul mates" she said having entered the booth just before the end of the song standing at his side hugging him
"Different but good" Bigga commented "Two hours to show time at the Drake Amber" he said leaving the mixing booth with Puck in toe
"Babe I need to get some clothes I forgot them in the rush this morning" Mercy said to Sam
"If we go now you'll make it" he said putting his guitar away and taking her hand to leave "Bye Guys" he said as he left the booth
"Bye" Mercy echoed
They got in the car and kissed "I've needed that all day" she said "At one point all I could see was your lips" she said making him laugh
As they drove along Sam thought he'd broach the subject of the Troublemakers "Mercy the opening act I'm sorry if he could do anything about it he would I promise you" he said waiting for a reaction but didn't get one so he left it alone. They went home had a bit of them time then Mercy got her clothes for the evening and they left for the Drake, they got there to find just a few people scattered around and a lone man playing the piano on stage
"Fuck this is going to be a great night" Mercy said sarcastically
"Bigga said big bucks didn't he?" Sam asked but she didn't get time to answer before a tall blond lady came up to them
"Are you the act for tonight?" she said looking at Sam but talking to Mercy which was made clear because she looked at Mercy for the last word
"Yes I am" Mercy said with a bit of a laugh in her voice
"You can take a seat over there Mr?" she said looking at Sam the whole time this time
"My names Sam and…"
"He's come to watch my performance" Mercy finished for him looking at him playfully, before following the lady to the back stage facilities
"Your Manager's a bit of eye candy isn't he?" she asked Mercy
"My name's Amber by the way" Mercy replied
"Sorry my name's Sue I'm the Manager here a bit distracted by the hunk"
"Understandable" Mercy remarked walking into the room she was being shown
"There is another act in the back room but this area is solely yours, there's a side door they can use" Sue said before leaving Mercy to it "I'm going to get acquainted" she smiled on leaving
"Have fun" Mercy smiled taking her phone out and texting Sam 'watch out for the cougar but don't tell her about us play the game'
Sam felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and took it out to find a message from Mercy and read it 'what game' he replied with a smile on his face 'she's here' he wrote as she came towards him, he put his phone away
"So Sam how long has Amber is it been on your books?" Sue asked
"Well, sorry I didn't get your name" he said
"Sue my names Sue" she said moving her chair closer
"Well Sue Amber has been with the company for about 2 weeks now she's just getting exposure but she's what we in the business would call a gem"
"And who's Sam?" Sue asked
"Well I'm just Sam I'm afraid I think she's really good and I just like to watch her in action"
"How long have you been in the business?"
"About 14 years"
"You don't look that old"
"Started as a child around 11 years old"
"Oh that makes sense"
"And what about you, how long have you been in the business of hotel entertainment?"
"It's been a while maybe 20 years or so but this type of exclusive entertainment about 2 years the owner just went up market for whatever reason but it was a good move the clientele changed too and the business is doing well" Sue said
"Owner has good business sense then?"
"Yeah, sorry I got to go it's time for the opening act" Sue said getting up
As she did so Sam looked around and was surprised at the influx of punters the hall had someone at every table and the waiters were busy serving out drinks as he was about to call one over a lady waiter came to his table "Drink for you Sir from the lady in the dressing room"
"Thank you" Sam said smiling at Mercy's games wondering if she was testing him or really just playing a game with these people. Sam was brought out of his day dream by the sound of Santana's voice on the stage
"Ladies and Gentlemen I give you the first act of the evening the Troublemakers" Sue said before stepping off the stage and going to sit back with Sam on the front table
"I see our Friend Sam is back in the land of the living" Santana said looking directly at him "Hello Sam" she said as all three waved at him
"Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen we're going to sing a few songs this evening and dedications are welcome in between we maybe have time for three dedications so get them in quick, our first song goes out to a mutual friend Sam sitting here up front, long time" Quinn said smiling at him and he waved to them all as the music started and they started singing "You're Makin Me High" by Toni Braxton they made suggestions to him throughout the song, him smile as cougar sat with an angry face
Sam wasn't phased in fact all he could think about all through their performance was Mercy sitting on him on their sofa rubbing his dick down with her hot wet crutch until he exploded in his trouser and the smell of coco butter.
"Sorry got to take this call" he said to Sue and left to go to the bar 'just listening to that and closed my eyes thinking about you and your beautiful coco butter smelling wet miss it' he wrote and sent it smiling
Mercy smiled when she got his message but didn't send one back as she was getting in her zone ready for singing, this was her first biggish break and she didn't really want to mess it up but if those bitches came at her or Sam she'd have no choice she was praying hard that things went well. The next thing she hears was the stage manager telling her she had five minutes to performance time and she was up and pacing the floor thinking get a grip Mercy when another text came through 'Stop stressing there's only me of importance out here do your thing, break a leg, this friggin Sue woman and the three witches at my table uninvited' and a frown face making her laugh again. Mercy put her phone away and made her way to the stage
"Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen It's my first night tonight so I'm going to start with a song for my significant other and then ask you to put your song requests in via the box here hopefully we'll get through a fair few so here goes to Sam my significant other" Mercy said
Sue look sheepishly at Sam before smiling at Mercy, while the others already sat open mouthed when they realised who they were doing the opening show for "You two still together" Brittany asked
"it's only been a week but, we're living together and she's been to meet my family and stuff we're hoping to get married soon" Sam said to a sea of blood drained faces "shhh she's starting" he finished pointing to the stage as Mercy started singing "My Love Is Like... Wo"by Mya ft. Missy Elliott as she gyrated on the stage for Sam smiling at him when she said wo
Sam was laughing by the end of the song at the thought that Mercy had chosen a song with his original name for her in it, he was standing clapping not just for the song but for the show Mercy had put on with the song to him transforming from the classic hotel performer to the bedroom bully look through the different stages of the song and he knew how that felt. She went through the rest of the show and had a short break for about 20 minutes which she spent with Sam and at about 2 in the morning she was finished for the night after getting dressed and bagging her things she went out to meet him to find the girls and Sue still sitting at the table, with an angry looking Sam
"Hi; what's up babe" she said walking round to him to rub his shoulder before he dragged her down to sit on his lap
"These Ladies" he said through his teeth "are trying to convince me that what we are isn't real"
"How would they know that babe?"
"I have no idea"
"So if that's true, and we didn't tell them that, why are you getting so fired up about their opinions?"
"I guess I'm a bit defensive when it comes to you"
"Thanks" she said kissing him on the lips for them all to see "So, can we go home while we still have some energy left?"
"Yep" Sam said picking her up off his lap and putting her feet on the floor before getting up himself, they didn't say anything to the women sitting at the table just walked away
One week later
They went on like this for the rest of the week until Friday it was Santana who approached Mercy asking "So this thing between Sam and you it's like the real deal yeah?" the others listening in
"Yeah it's the real deal we hope to get married in the very near future"
"I hear you met his family?" Rachel asked coming from nowhere
"Yeah their nice people and his friends" she said and they sat for the next 20 minutes of her break talking
"I like you Amber I think under different circumstances we'd have maybe been friends" Quinn said
"I like you ladies too but not enough to share my man" she laughed before seriously saying "No I mean that" and laughed again. Sam was somewhat surprised to see Mercy with the girls laughing but figured it was better than brawling in the place, so he thought he'd leave them to it and went back to his table to nurse his drink that he'd had all night. "Hey why the Billy no mates act?" Mercy asked
"No reason saw you getting acquainted and thought I'd stay away for once" he said hugging her as she came to him "You back up now?"
"Yeah but you're coming with me I asked Bigga already he said you're to start next week but you could do one song tonight" she said
"Straight up?"
"Straight up" she said pulling him up
Mercy got up on stage and dedicated songs to individuals in the audience and her new found acquaintances at the bar before calling Sam on stage to do a song
"Actually I think we'll let the audience choose for us what do you say babe?" she asked him as he made his way to the stage
"Fine by me"
"Okay you need to challenge him he's too comfortable in his box" she said laughing as he made his way to her side
"Let's have it then, this challenge" he shouted as he got to the mic
"Womack and Womack" somebody shouted
"There too young for that stuff" someone else shouted back
"What about love sex magic" Brittany shouted "from the thug" she said making everyone laugh
"I think you'll find he's my thug" Mercy said pointing at him then herself
"Okay we'll do that one Okay M?" Sam said
"Fine" she said nodding for the musicians to start playing as she started singing "Love, Sex & Magic by Ciara & Justin Timberlake with Sam joining in for his cues as they performed tastefully sexy on the stage, finishing the song in each other's arms
"Yeah" applause went up for the performance and shouts of more could be heard but as promised Mercy only let him do one song before she carried on and finished the night reminding them if they wanted to see more of Sam they should visit all next week, before leaving for home
When they got home Sam thought it had been a good week since they had last broached the subject so he should ask Mercy again about visiting her family maybe the coming weekend "Mercy can we go see your family this weekend? He shouted from the kitchen as he made the hot drinks "I'll let you have double DVD night" he said laughing
"Actually I was just getting round to asking the same thing I need this to move on" she said as he came walking out of the kitchen towards her putting the drinks down on the coffee table
"Move on?" he questioned
"Yeah you know next steps and things" she said jiggling her eyebrows
"Next Steps" he agreed a bit excited moving closer to her
"After the visit Sammy I don't want to be hopping around craving for something I would not dream of having at my Grandma's house" she said giggling
"You're working on Friday so we'll go Saturday morning straight after and get back for Sunday yeah"
"Sounds Good" she agreed before taking in a long breath and exhaling
"Sho be do do do Shu be do do do" Sam sang at Mercy's puzzled look "waiting to exhale" he said with a smile
"Sounded nothing like it" she laughed
SATURDAY
The Plane ride was quiet, they'd taken the early morning flight so most passengers were asleep as they listened to music and played Sudoku, on landing they found their bags and collected the hire car to get to their destination.
"So Sam, you will let me know if any of these fools mess with you yeah?" she asked as they drove through the town of Richmond
"I can handle myself Mercy trust me" he said confidently
"I know you can babe but these folks can get vicious and I need to know your safe all the time" she said hugging into him as he drove the rest of the distance from the airport with Mercy hugged underneath his arm in their hire car.
"Just left here babe it's about another 10 minutes and we'll be there" she said
"We're leaving the town and going into the sticks where are you taking me?
"It's not far" she said fidgeting
So they drove in silence for the next maybe 8 minutes before Mercy added "The house it's just a bit big but don't be .."
"Fuck look at this Mercy its breath taking Wow" he said as they cleared the bend and a lake came into view on the one side of the road and on the other a very large white house, with men sitting outside to the left of it and children playing in the lane in the hot sun of early morning
"Sam stop" Mercy said making him slam the breaks on
"What's up?" he asked when the car came to a standstill
"I just want to say the house is big but we all live there and there'll be no room sharing no time at all"
"Should we have had a conversation before we got here Mercy?" he asked smiling "I know you did this to get me back" he laughed "Is your family money?" he asked
"Well yeah but not like yours" she said shyly "Okay but don't judge us yeah we're money"
"So don't keep anything away from me ever again or me and you are done; applies to me yeah but not you?" She asked pointing to himself first and then her
"It applies to both of us, but you've put me through so much bull shit this past four weeks I just needed to get you back in some small way" she said leaning up to him, kissing him on the lips
"Cedes it's you; you better get in here before Ma sees what you're out here doing" a voice interrupted them saying
"Uncle Danny" she said pulling away from Sam as she turned round to look through the window on her side at the tall dark skinned man with dreadlocks and what looked like a reef hanging out his mouth "This is Sam my boyfriend" she said as Sam stretched across her to shake Uncle Danny's hand
"Nice to meet you" Sam said with a strong hand shake
"Sam" Uncle Danny said before turning to Mercy saying "You know he's white right?"
"I'm ready for you all just bring it coz you all know I ain't joking this time round" Mercy said getting out the car to him
"Hold up Baby Girl I'm joking, Sam I'm joking I know you know he's white, word of advice baby girl let Sam defend himself and earn some respect they will kill him in there if you come out guns like that" Uncle Danny said hugging her
"And you still rolling those extra strong tobacco leaves Uncle it's gonna be the you know what of you" She said fanning the smoke away from her face "Anyway we're going to see Grandma see you later" she said getting back in the car to direct Sam the short distance round to the gate to get in
"You're seeing me now Baby Girl I need to see this go down" he said jumping the fence and running back across the grassed area at the front of the house
"I didn't tell any of them anything about you I wanted us to hear everything together and react together but, I'm going to take Uncle Danny's advice and leave you to it unless you actually call my name and then they better watch the fuck out" she said with attitude making Sam lift his right eyebrow but say nothing
So they stopped outside the house, the playing children stopped the chatting in the lane, all that could be heard was the dog barking loudly "Mercy" heard her name and turned round to see that the children had realised who she was and were running to her for hugs, they got them as she called their names individually while hugging them, the men got up and went towards her
"Uncle Jim" she said hugging him in "Uncle Tony" she acknowledged hugging him and lastly "Uncle Calvin" once all three had their hugs and Uncle Danny joined them Mercy turned to Sam who was standing watching the fond exchanges "Uncle this is Sam my boyfriend" she said as Sam held his hand out for shaking to each one
"They know he's white" Uncle Danny said laughing
"We both know she's black too" Sam said smiling at the men standing in front of him "Hopefully we'll get acquainted later" he said moving past them holding Mercy's hand as she manoeuvred him into the house
"Grandma" she shouted walking into the house and straight to the back which Sam found out was the kitchen "Grandma" Mercy said much quieter once she got into the room and the Grey haired lady looked round with delight on her face
"Baby Girl" She said but before she could get up Mercy went to her and hugged her Sam was sure there was crying going on but he was just lapping up his surroundings as Mercy and her Grandma held each other for the longest time. Sam noticed the dried corn trash on the table the big iron pots hanging from the ceiling raft the very clean eight burner stove and the massive freezers on the side wall the kitchen had all mod cons for the age it looked outside "I missed you baby" her Grandma finally said when she let her go
Getting up from her bent position Mercy went round to face her grandmother "Grandma this is Sam my boyfriend" she said waiting for a response
"You're thinking of him being more than a boyfriend if you've brought him here" she said laughing
"I am Grandma but you have to meet him first" she said shyly
"Does it matter what I think?" her Grandma asked looking at her slyly "And be truthful girl"
"No not really he's the one and it's going to happen we don't know when yet but it's definitely going to happen" she said feeling proud of herself in saying that
"So young man that's taken my young Granddaughters heart come here let me see you"
"Good day Ma'am" he said putting his hand out for a shake
"Son if you ever want me to crack a smile with you; you need to get down here and give me a hug I think we're going to get a lot more personal as time goes by" Grandma said to him as he did as he was told and gave her a hug "Good hugs, you have a good spirit" she said as he moved out of the hug
"Thank you Ma'am"
"I'm not your Ma'am I'm Grandma Jones" she said
"Sorry thank you Grandma Jones" he said smiling with the woman
"I like him Baby Girl he's a good man" her Grandma said
"I like him too Grandma actually I love him" she surprised herself for saying that to her Grandma
"You know love and Sex have no business together until marriage though yeah?" her grandmother reminded her
"Yes we do Grandma" he replied making her laugh
"I got to say though Baby Girl you do know he's white yeah?" her grandma said
"Grandma" she said disappointed
"Yeah we know and we know she's black too" Sam said making Grandma laugh
"At least he has a sense of humour" she said through her laugh "Word of advice Baby Girl let the Aunt's find you go lounge" Grandma said before turning back to Mercy for a hug then getting back to her vegetables "Dinner at 7.30 sharp" she shouted after them