~Mercedes' POV~

A few minutes after the service, Sam suggested that we go to Times Square. He knows I like to come here a lot...its something about the lights and people and how big and bright everything is that makes me feel small. I remember the first time I saw my face light up one of those giant screens announcing my album...I thought I had made it...

That feeling was amazing, and it made me hunger for more. Like everything was starting to come together and-

I look across the table at Sam who's just people watching. He breathes deep and even and he's just so relaxed. I'm so worked up and frantic and he's just calm and steady.

"Sam?"

He turns his head to look at me and his eyebrows raise a bit.

"What do you want?" I ask.

He looks down a bit with a smile. "Other than you happy and healthy?" He shrugs. "Not really sure there's too much else."

"Okay, first things first. This can't be about me" I say getting things sorted out.

He scrunches up his face. "But it is about you. Its about both of us."

"Exactly. And I don't want you sacrificing everything just so we can be together, you've worked too hard-"

"Same goes for you" he says decidedly.

"Sam-"

"No, Merce. I'll give you two options" he says changing his position to rest his arms on the table. "We can either figure out a way that allows both of us to get what we want or..."

"Or?"

"We both throw it all away and start something entirely new, together" he says with a nod. "Its the only way that's fair."

"How is that fair? What would we even do?!" I shriek.

"I dunno" he shrugs again. "Start an organic farm or a winery up in California somewhere. Own a ranch out in Montana. Build a pottery barn in Vermont. I don't care. Merce," he says reaching out to touch my hand. "If you're going to give up your dream to sing, then I'm giving up mine to teach-

"You can't!"

"I don't want you resenting me for making you stay in Lima."

"I wouldn't-"

"Maybe not now-"

"Not ever. This is my choice."

"Then what are we doing? Winery? Ranch? Pottery Barn?" He asks. "Because there is no way I'm living in a world where I get to have my dream and you can't have yours."

"But I've had it" I try but it doesn't sound as strong as I had meant it too.

He looks at me unconvinced. "If you want to stop, that's all on you. Like I couldn't be with you if I knew you gave it up for me. And don't act like I'm being crazy because its for the same reasons you don't want me to stop teaching."

I roll my eyes and groan.

"So we can give up everything and try something new or we work out a plan."

I pout for a good minute or two before snapping at him. "Well, you're not quitting school so I guess we have to figure stuff out."

He smiles. "Alright."

"How much longer until you finish?"

"Two years" he answers and I look at him like it should be the most obvious answer. "You're not moving back to Lima."

"Might as well, its not like I had some big plans or something-"

"BEYONCE!"

I roll my eyes. "It was never set in stone. If anything I was planning on working my next album."

"Can you work on it anywhere?"

I pause thinking a moment.

"If you can give me two years to finish the program, I'll follow you anywhere" he says with a sigh.

That sentence melts my heart and I look at him wanting to cry. He smiles reaching up to stroke my cheek.

"Okay, that's set?"

"Yeah" I nod. "Two years. In Lima" I stress and he nods after a moment agreeing.

"Okay...now...this wedding-"

"Are you sure you don't want to wait?" I blurt and then watch the hurt hit his face and then I'm spazzing out to reassure him its not because I don't want too.

"Like we can-"

"NO!" I shriek and become a bit embarrassed because it was sort of loud. He chuckles watching me. "I just want to make sure I'm not pressuring you."

"You're not. I'm sort of panicking too...I don't want to lose you either."

I smile listening to him continue.

"Twenty-six really isn't that bad anyway. My parents were even younger."

"Mine are going to freak!" I giggle. "Like, if our friends are any indication as to how our families are going to react?"

"I know" he chuckles. "But we just have to stay strong and trust that what we have is going to make it."

I nod grinning ear to ear. "I, love you."

"And I, love hearing you say that" he smirks allowing his green eyes to glint. "So...one month from today?"

I take in a deep breath debating on whether or not I'm going to actually go through with this.

"Yeah" I smile. "One month from today."

~Sam's POV~

Both Mercedes and I took our time returning to our friends. We ended up going to a coffee shop and spent a few hours talking, just catching up before we decided to come back to the madness of it all. Now we're walking back, taking the long way around enjoying our time alone.

I glance over to her and she smiles at me before turning her head to look away. I squeeze her hand a little tucking her tighter to my side.

"You seem awfully happy" I comment and she chuckles.

"I am happy" she says. "I finally had the nerve to do what I've wanted too for years."

"Well I've asked you to marry me before-" I begin but then she starts laughing.

"No, not that" she smiles. "Like that's part of it, but not the main part. Like...don't get me wrong I couldn't be more thrilled that we're engaged but...I'm extremely proud of myself for finally being able to tell you how I feel."

I look down at her puzzled and she explains even further.

"Sam, you've always been open about your feelings regarding anyone...especially me," she says slow. "And I know I had no reason to be afraid to tell you how much I care about you...how I can't really picture anyone else to spend my life with, because I don't want too...and how all I really want out of life is to have the chance to make you happy..."

My heart swells with each word and I swallow hard trying to unstop my ears so I don't miss a thing.

"And yeah breaking up with you the first time was stupid...like...really stupid" she says more to herself than me. "But that last time, I only did it because I didn't want you wasting yourself trying to wait for me. And I knew how it'd play out...you would've tried waiting while I was on tour but something probably would've happened to make you slip up, and you would've never forgiven yourself."

"You don't know that" I frown and she looks at me.

"Sam, you practically freaked when you kissed that photographer-lady...and that was only a kiss."

"Even so" I grumble secretly knowing she's right. "We could've saved a lot of time and heart-ache if you had told me that essentially you still wanted to be with me. Not making it seem like I'm crazy for knowing the whole time we were meant to be."

She sighs. "I know, I'm sorry. But from now on, I'll be brave and tell you what I'm thinking...because you're worth it. And just because I got extremely lucky this time, doesn't mean I'm willing to risk it again."

"Lucky?"

"Yeah! Its amazing you're still single" she laughs. "Sam, there was like a 99.9% chance that someone snatched you up and I was too late...which is why I promised myself that on the rare miracle that you were still available, I'd throw away my pride and just go for it."

I smile even wider as we turn the corner almost to Rachel and Jesse's apartment and she stops walking. She takes her hand to pull me to her and I sling into her carefully, my arms already formed to hold her.

"I'm sorry I took so long" she apologizes look deep into my eyes. "And no matter what happens, even if you decide not to go through with this..."

I open my mouth to protest and she places her cute hand over it.

"Just know that I love you...okay?"

I roll my eyes and sigh and she gives me a warning look.

"Boy," she says slow giving me the full sass. "You better answer me when I'm talking to you."

I look at her shocked before gesturing with my eyes that it's her that's keeping me from talking. She winces bringing her hand down.

"Now...you listen to me. I love you and I know you love me," I begin and she folds in her lips. "But this isn't going to work unless you start believing it."

She frowns and I look at her knowing that she's waiting for the other shoe to drop. She doesn't think there's a happy ending for us, and its no doubt due to her watching her friends time and time getting chosen over her. But this is real, and I'm choosing her. But I know it won't make a difference until she accepts it so we can start our lives together.

"I legit have no other way of proving that I'm in this forever, other than to marry you. So you can stop with the open-ended sentences-"

"What open-ended sentences?"

"You think I don't know what you're doing, Merce?" I half-laugh frustrated. "You're giving me an out just like you always do, and I don't know how many times I have to tell you but I don't want one."

She opens her mouth and then closes it breathing out.

"All the talking we've done today and you still don't get it."

"I just don't want this to be a mistake" she explains.

"Any time we're together, can't be a mistake. Merce, I know in my heart this is right" I smile bringing her in closer to hug. "Don't you feel it, too?"

"Honestly?" She says sounding like she wants to cry. "It feels too good to be true."

"Good" I say encouraging her statement.

"But Sam, every time I start to feel like this something happens!"

"That's okay, one month from today we'll officially start facing this shit together!" I chuckle squeezing her tighter and her hands wind around my waist. "Mercedes...our friends are assholes."

"What?" She laughs letting me go tearily.

"Our friends are assholes" I repeat with a wide grin. "This is probably the happiest I've ever been and as soon as we go back in there, they're going to say everything imaginable to ruin it."

She breathes out again looking up the length of the apartment building. "They're not going to support us, are they?"

"Not at first, no."

"But why?"

I shrug not knowing the answer. "It doesn't matter...what matters is us...and when we step through that door we gotta come out fighting. We have to fight, for us." She looks a little scared and my large hands cup her face. "Whatever they say doesn't matter...one month from today, I'm yours."

She closes her eyes resting in my hands. "I'm yours today."

I can't help but kiss her. The girl of my dreams is mine and she's finally admitting it. And to top it all off, we're getting married in a month. This is the best day ever.

"Okay, okay, okay" she pants pulling away from my lips. "There's just one more thing I gotta do before we go up."

"What's that? I ask confused.

"Do you have your phone?" She smiles. "I kinda wanna call my dad...it'll feel more official for me once I do it."

My hands reach inside my pocket and I hand the phone over. Her fingers begin dialing her home number and she puts the phone up to her ear impatiently waiting for someone to pickup. Her eyes brighten once they do...

"Hey, let me talk to dad...Dad? Yeah, it's me 'Cedes...I'm fine. Great actually" she smiles looking up at me. "I've got some news...I'm getting married..."

A loud roar happens on the other end startling us both and she has to calm him down.

"No! Dad! Calm down!" She giggles and I look at her worried. "No, I'm not drunk...And I'm not pregnant" she hisses. "I asked him, and he said yes...it's Sam. Yes, Evans! How many other Sam's do we know...what? Like...really?"

I frown confused until she holds out the phone for me. She looks at me wincing before inching the phone towards me. I take it hesitantly until I remember that I just got finished telling Mercedes that it won't matter what anyone else has to say. I've waited too long for this moment, and I will protect what we have from anyone...

"Hello?"

"Mr. Jones" he emphasizes and I sigh knowing that I'm already starting off on the wrong foot.

"Of course, Mr. Jones. How are you-"

"Cut the crap Sam, Merce says you two are engaged" he says in his deep gruff tone.

Damn, I forgot how intimidating he was...even over the phone he's got me slightly cowering down.

Man-up Evans. You got this.

"Yes, sir" I say steadily.

"Well, I guess I really only have one thing to say to you..."

I fix a scowl on my face getting ready to tell him off, but then he says one magical word that melts it away.

"Congratulations."