~Sam's POV~
For the rest of the morning we eat breakfast as planned, Mercedes positioned across from me allowing our feet to interlock and anchor underneath the table. She smiles down at her plate before stealing a glance at me and when our eyes meet I tuck my lips in and my nose flares trying not to grin.
"For the love of God, get a room" Kitty groans trying to eat her eggs.
"Oh, leave them alone" Roderick adds with an approving look. "I think its cute."
Mercedes opens her mouth to say something but ends up closing it.
"I don't see what the big deal is, its just footsie under the table" Tina shrugs.
"Footsie? Yeah right!" Artie laughs drinking some juice. "These two are practically having eye sex."
"Artie!" Mercedes hisses.
"What?" He smiles. "It is cute."
"No, what's cute is the fact that they think we can't see" Quinn says looking directly at me, her expression cold and disapproving.
I cock an eyebrow almost challenging her to say something, because it's clear she doesn't support our decision to get married. But its too bad, because we are. And I'll be damned if anyone tries to stop us, I don't care if it is our closest friends.
Mercedes has finally admitted what I've known all along, and I don't care how rushed it seems I know in my heart that she's the one I'm meant to be with. She's always hidden her feelings or found a way to break us apart and now that she's willing to fight along side me to defend what we have, I can't afford to let anyone kill it. When it comes to us and her belief that our love can work, she's fragile and I understand that. Which is why if anyone starts attacking it, I swear to God I'll protect her and that love until the very end.
"Guys come on, we're at the table" I say trying to shift the focus.
"WE KNOW" the group says in a mixture of annoyance and humor.
Mercedes rolls her eyes before returning back to her breakfast.
"No need to be shy, Merce" Puck smirks. "There was bound to be some sexual tension...like I know its been forever since-"
"OH MY GOSH" she says covering her face mortified.
I look down at my plate, all the while allowing my foot to slide up the inner part of her calf and she rises up a little before bringing her hands down to give me a look.
"Stahp" she mouths fighting the urge to smile. She's trying not to show me (or anyone else) that she likes it, and I chuckle untangling my legs.
"I just can't believe we're going to let them go through with this."
I look at Jesse who's sitting at the end of the table and my eyes narrow reflexively.
"What do you mean, Mercedes and Sam belong together" Rachel recites like its a fact and I feel myself nod in agreement.
"Maybe" Jesse shrugs. "But what type of friends would we be if we didn't try and stop this career suicide."
Mercedes sighs giving him a look that's clearly telling him to shut up, but he keeps going.
"Have you even thought about it? Like really thought about it" he pauses for half a second. "Of course you haven't. Because if you had, you would see that this is the most ridiculous idea you've ever had. And the fact that you're even considering it makes you seem foolish."
"Jesse that's enough" Mercedes growls. "You've made your point."
"No, M" he says a little upset. "You are so close. Close enough to reap the benefits of all your hard work. Your dreams are so much bigger than becoming some housewife to this 'Finn-Schuester-Wannabe' in some podunk town in Ohio."
"Dude, what the fuck?!" Puck chimes in and I stay quiet because I want to hear him.
"Don't act like it isn't true" Jesse says shifting his gaze to me. "Each and everyone of us left and made something of ourselves, except for him." He chuckles. "Right at the peak of his success here in New York he left to get some second rate job at McKinley, when he should've stayed here and stuck it out just like the rest of us. He runs away at the first signs of difficulty" he taunts.
"So that means I don't know how to deal with difficulties?" I challenge.
"I'm not talking about your fourth grade reading level or the fact that New Directions has lost Nationals every year since you've taken over as their leader."
"Jesse I love you," Mercedes snarls. "But I swear fo' Jesus if you don't find a way to shut up I'll punch your teeth out."
"I love you too, M" he says with a slight smile, his eyes fixed on me. "And yeah, my way of showing it may not be the nicest but I'm not letting go through with this until you've thought about what it will really mean to throw it all away and you're absolutely sure this is what you really want."
"How do you know its not?" I ask. "She asked me, remember?"
"She panicked" Jesse snaps. "And you know it, otherwise you wouldn't have come up with this two-week deadline. You know as well as I that your time is running out for her to come to her senses."
"Knock. Knock. Knock!"
"Open up, bitches and let us in!"
"Oh thank God. I'll get it!" Blaine says getting up to answer the door.
And like a breath of fresh air, Santana and Britney stroll into the apartment setting down there bags. A few people get up from the table to greet them, and no doubt give them a heads up of what's going on while the rest of us stay put and ride out the awkward wide range of emotions.
Mercedes closes her eyes and breathes deep trying to keep herself under control, but then her eyes flash open.
"We could do it right now, y'know" she says low looking at me for an escape. "We could go to city hall and go half on the marriage license fee and it'd be done and over...and it wouldn't change a thing. Not how I feel, nor my plans about us-"
"I know Merce, I know" I say and she nods understanding. I can already tell she's trying to prove to me that she's not going to go back on her word. "But we're gonna wait" I say decidedly locking eyes with her to show her that I'm serious.
Jesse scoffs and I turn to look at him.
"We're gonna wait because our marriage shouldn't be an act of defiance. It wasn't a rebel cause for any of our friends, so why should it be like that for us."
"Preach" Artie says waving a hand.
"I want our family and friends there, and I want to do it the right way like you've always dreamed without any outside pressure."
Mercedes pouts sitting back in her seat.
"I think Sam makes a valid point" Kurt offers. "You deserve a beautiful day entirely planned out by me and I just cannot deliver perfection in two weeks. I refuse."
"You say it like we all won't help" Tina sighs sitting back down in her seat.
"Two weeks isn't enough time to straighten things out" I sigh. "And like it or not, we have a lot to discuss."
"What's to discuss, I'm moving back home to Lima" she rushes out and Quinn drops her fork.
"I hate to sound like St. Jerk over there, but he's right. This is career suicide" Quinn says quick. "You've struggled so hard to make it out, why are you going back?"
"Well we can't move to L.A. Sam's work is too important-"
"YOU'RE TRADING IN ANOTHER TOUR WITH BEYONCE FOR GLEE CLUB?! AT MCKINLEY?" Mike yells before sitting there horrified. "He's right...you've lost it."
"She must have" Kitty adds. "No one is more important than Queen Bee."
"Sam is" she says with a slight smile looking at me. "To me, anyway."
She loves me more than her career, and I love her too much to let her go through with it.
"Merce, they're right" I say. "Its career suicide, so maybe we should wait until-"
"I'm not sacrificing any more time being unhappy. All of the money and success in the world won't mean much if you can't share it with me. So...maybe being 'Mrs. Finn-Schuester' doesn't seem like much to you, Jess...but for me it sounds perfect."
My heart swells hearing her sentence and I unintentionally smile.
"So...one month from today I'll be waiting at my church in Lima at the alter, and ya'll can show up if ya'll want too" she says with a shrug before looking at me. "And if you change your mind in between that time just let me know and we'll take it from there."
~Mercedes' POV~
"Talk to me, chica."
I think this is the most time I've ever spent in a bathroom, but thanks to my friends this doesn't feel like a bathroom but an interrogation room instead. Quinn is perched on the rim of the tub while Santana blocks the door making it impossible for me to leave.
"San, move."
"Not until you tell me what's going on?"
"There's nothing to tell! I'm getting married. Sam and I love each other and we're getting married" I huff wanting to scream out of frustration. "And I'll say it again for everyone else on the other side of this door. SAM AND I LOVE EACH OTHER AND WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!"
Three seconds later I hear "You tell'm babe!" from Sam before a slight shuffle and a door slam. I smile knowing that the guys are probably giving him the same talk I'm getting now.
"Alright, but why now?" Quinn says bluntly. "Why now, Mercedes? You are twenty-five-"
"You were twenty-three when you married Puck!" I challenge.
"But he was being sent out overseas" she defends and I look at her like she's missing the obvious. "Oh" she says scratching her head.
"Exactly. You of all people should understand."
She opens her mouth to disagree but she winces unable too.
"Uh-huh" I sass.
"Hol' up" Santana starts. "For years all Q has ever wanted to do was get married and have kids."
"So?"
"So, I've never once heard you say that you wanted that life" she adds. "'Cedes, be real. You want more than what Lima has to offer-"
"Ya'll make it seem like if I marry Sam I can't sing as well."
"Not in Lima!" They say together and I roll my eyes.
"I hate to bring you down-"
"Then don't" I snap. "Everyone else has found a way to make it work and each and overtime one of ya'll has a crazy idea I'm the first one to support you. And now that its my turn, ya'll wanna switch the game?"
Both Santana and Quinn look at me without another word and I wait hoping that one of them is going to say something to redeem this moment.
"Wow..." I say shaking my head.
I don't even bother saying move, but reach for the door and Santana shifts aside easily. The living room is empty except for Roderick who's sitting in a chair watching television. Shouts can be heard from the back bedroom and its overwhelmingly apparent that their intervention isn't working from the loud banter that's occurring. I shake my head walking over to the spot where I put my coat and I begin shrugging it on. Roderick's eyes follow me as if to question where I'm off too.
"I'm just going someplace where I can think" I answer putting my purse across my body. "I'll come back, I guess."
He cocks an eyebrow letting me know he has every intention of ratting me out and I roll my eyes heading for the door.
"At least give me a head start" I grumble leaving the apartment.
I take the elevator to the lobby floor and ask the doorman to signal a taxi. When I get in, I give them directions to St. Patrick's Cathedral on 5th Avenue. Its a quick ten minute drive and after I pay the cab, I blend in with the other church-goers and step up the steps to get inside. I don't even bother sitting in the lower level but aim straight for the elevators to take me to the balcony. I squeeze in and wait as the ride smoothly lifts me higher and higher, and when I step off I immediately start to feel better. I sit in a middle aisle and shrug out of my coat settling in for the mass, allowing the music from the choir to sift my brain from the stress of this morning.
I close my eyes hearing the complex and heavenly melodies of the organ, the deafening tones make it impossible to hear anything else. And for a moment I find peace, until the rush of nerves floods my veins and I think about what I've done.
I asked Sam to marry me, and he said yes and now we're engaged. And although I love him...am I rushing into this? Santana was right, having a family and settling down was always Quinn's dream...but was it mine as well?
Like...I knew I imagined having kids one day...but now? Or within the next year or even the year after that?
And although being famous was a dream of mine, is a dream of mine...could I be happy and content if I never achieved that? Could I be happy in some small town, with a regular job and a husband and a family? Was I ready for that?
I'm not ready for that...but I still want that.
And I could give up the fame, I think. I mean, all I ever really wanted to do was to sing, make people happy and be financially secure. But could I do that in Lima?
But part of me really hates Lima. I mean, its all I've ever really known. I like new and exciting things and the last thing I ever really wanted to do was live and die in the same place I had been born.
But asking him to move is selfish, but then again aren't I giving up a lot too?
But his work is really important. The New Directions is important. Its a legacy that has to be kept alive and I do miss that part of it...
The seat dips down from the addition of weight and someone takes my hand squeezing it. I smile a little before opening my eyes and seeing him next to me. He gives me a wink before returning his attention back to the service as we watch the nuns file in.
He's perfection. Like he knows what I need and he gives it to me without me having to explain. He knows I want to talk but not now, that I just came here to clear my head. And that by him following, sitting next to me, holding my hand is his way of telling me that I'm not alone. That we're in this together and somehow we'll make it work.
I lean over resting my head on his shoulder, taking my other hand to cover his and I feel him smile.