~Mercedes' POV~
Sam and I ride the elevator up to Rachel and Jesse's apartment and at first I was nervous but after talking to Sam, I couldn't feel anymore confident. One month from today, I'm going to be Mrs. Evans and it takes everything I have not to squeal at the thought.
"You ready?" He asks as the elevator jostles a little settling into the floor.
"Yeah" I grin excited to tackle what's awaiting us. "I am. Let's go!"
I lead us off the elevator and walk right up to the door. It swings open before I even have a chance to knock.
"Mercedes. Please. Please tell me you two didn't elope" Tina says in a panic. "Not that I disapprove, it's just I wanted to be there to support you guys."
"Tina, you didn't miss anything" I smile accepting her support. "We're still getting married one month from today...so...July 8th, I guess."
"Oh thank God" she says clutching her heart and taking my hand to pull me inside. "Just about everyone is out looking for you two. They'll be glad to know you're alright."
"I just can't believe you'd take off like that!" Rachel says waddling into the hallway from the living room. "I mean we were worried sick!"
"Why? I told you I'd find her" Sam says shrugging out of his jacket.
"Yeah, but you were supposed to call when you did. And since you didn't, Jesse was the first one to go looking with Quinn and Puck. Santana, Britney and Mike are guarding city hall. And the rest are either looking for you, or shopping for wedding gifts."
"You all have lost it!" I say reaching for their telephone.
"Who are you calling?" Tina asks and I don't answer waiting for Jesse to pick up on the other line.
"MERCEDES! WHERE ARE YOU?! I'VE BEEN SEARCHING THE CITY LOOKING FOR YOU! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!" Jesse rushes. "Did you and Sam-"
"No. We did not" I say in a tone. "Now you and your search party have exactly fifteen minutes to get back here or our friendship is done. I mean it, anyone who isn't back in time is cut off."
"Cedes'-"
"Fifteen minutes, Jesse."
"You can't get anywhere in fifteen minutes and we're all over Manhattan."
"Not my problem. I am so close to being fucking done with all of you, so I suggest you hurry if you value our friendship. Fifteen minutes" I snap hanging up the phone and going to sit in the living room next to Sam on the couch.
"Mercedes, seriously?" Rachel winces. "Fifteen minutes, in New York? It's almost impossible-"
"If it were reversed I'd find a way. I don't care if I had to barricade my way through each and every block, if one of you needed me I'd be there. Why am I always considered unreasonable whenever I'm trying to get the same respect that I give? It's been this way since high school, and I'm tired of it. No matter what crazy idea any of you throws at me, I'm the first one to be your ride or die. Like seriously Rachel? When you called telling me that you and Jesse were eloping in Vegas, I was the first one on a plane to meet you there."
"But you tried to talk me out of it too!"
"No, I asked if it was what you really wanted. Rachel, I had to trust your feelings because Jesse is and always will be the biggest jerk on the planet...but he's a jerk who loves you. So what more could I say?!" I argue. "Sam isn't even an eighth of the asshole Jesse is, and ya'll are giving us such a hard time. Like I don't get it, what is so wrong with Sam and I being together!"
"Merce" Sam calls with a slight smile and it snaps me out of my tangent.
I look at him seeing everything I could ever want. A happy life, with the man I know I'm meant to be with. I've known it since high school and for some stupid reason I fought the idea until I almost destroyed it. I know that I'm extremely lucky he feels the same way. That he isn't fixated on someone else or that I have to jump through a series of hoops trying to win him back. The problem has never been him...it was me. And I'll be damned if I ruin this opportunity and not find a way to work our relationship out.
"I can't keep asking you to wait forever," I say feeling emotional. "Everyone else has gotten their happy ending...why not us?"
Sam steps behind me, curling his hand around mine and he tugs me gently to the sofa to sit and wait.
"I'm always putting everyone else first, but this is something I have to do for me. Whether we have their support or not" I say flatly, squeezing his hand and he returns the pressure before I rest my head on his shoulder.
We sit mostly in silence, counting the seconds until the fifteen minute mark is up and they still aren't here. I smile bitterly adding a slight sniffle, seeing exactly where I stand on their scale of importance. Sam shakes my hand a little and I look at him remembering that he's always kept me first and I nod.
This is probably a good indication as to how our life will be together. Just the two of us. And although I would've liked to have my friends a part of our lives, it's time I stopped sacrificing myself and what I have in order to keep them. It's not fair to me and I deserve better.
"We should get our stuff from Blaine and Kurt's apartment" I say scooting up to the edge in order to stand. "And then we can find a place to go or-"
A sudden burst of people crash through the apartment door as a small flood of people blockade the exit. Sam and I stare wide-eyed and amused as our friends bumble around the living room in order to get to us. Constant coos and sides of affection and worry hover over us, before it's quickly replaced with shade and chastisement.
"WE WERE WORRIED SICK!" Quinn snarls. "HOW FOOLISH HAD YOU PLANNED TO BE?!"
"AND WHAT THE FUCK IS WITH THIS FIFTEEN MINUTES BULLSHIT?!" Jesse says entirely heated and I exhale giving him a look.
"It wasn't bullshit to me-"
"Mercedes! Fifteen minutes in Manhattan?" Mike interjects. "Like we legit had to force our way just to make it back in time."
"Technically you're three minutes late" Rachel adds and they all give her a look. "Just sayin'"
"Well I'm glad you felt us important enough to save this friendship" I say a bit unfeeling.
"Where is this coming from?" Santana snaps rolling her eyes. "You know how much we love you."
"Do I?" I hedge. "The one time I ask this group to support me in my happiness, 75% of you try to kill it with your negativity-"
"Because we're concerned!" Quinn huffs. "Cedes, you know I want you happy...but...I can't help but see a pattern when it comes to you and Sam."
"Damn, Quinn" Santana quips and she turns on her.
"It's true!" She exclaims. "You and Sam get together, everything is fine until one of you has to go away. You break up, and you're left sulking or singing about it until the next get together when you two re-kindle something. And then it starts all over again...This relationship is toxic and I don't want to see either of you get hurt...so no, I don't think you two should get married. At least not right away."
"Our wedding is one month from today" Sam says standing up and Quinn gives him a fierce glare.
"A month?!" Jesse exclaims. "Mercedes, come on!"
"You know what Jesse, I've had just about enough of you-"
"You aren't thinking! How is someone like him going to support you?" He argues.
"This isn't the 1940's, I don't need him to support me-" I argue but Sam ends up easing me back to face Jesse head-on.
"Let's get one. Thing. Straight...This over-protective, fascist friendship you have with Mercedes is over..." he snarls. "If you wanted the right to openly declare how much she means to you, or attempt to dictate how she runs her life, or even concern yourself with any other personal affairs regarding her...you should've gathered your courage and asked her to marry you...but you didn't. And I can tell you right now as the man she's chosen to be with, that you and I are going to have some serious problems if you don't back off."
Jesse scowls as Sam continues and everyone in the room remains silent.
"Everyone here knows how much I love her, and there is absolutely no way as a man I would accept her proposal if I didn't think I could provide her the life she's accustomed too."
I sigh dramatically at their macho-descriptions because I don't like how they make me sound like a kept woman; but no one seems to be paying me any mind due to the seriously thick tension within the room.
"Your concern Jesse, is no longer welcomed nor necessary. Mercedes isn't your privilege or responsibility...She's entirely mine, starting right now..." Sam says finally stepping out of his frame. "And any one who doesn't like it," he says addressing the entire room. "Can go fuck themselves."
When he looks back at me, I'm practically beaming. He gives a short exhalation as if he's finished a Presidential address and he looks back at me with a slight smile.
I begin noticing the looks of everyone around us. They seem sort of speechless and as I reflect I can see where anyone might be afraid to say something.
"Sam and I are just tired," I say changing my tone into something softer. "Whenever you need any of us we're always there...it's just this time, it's our turn."
"Merce is right," Sam adds. "We love you guys...and we want you at our wedding."
"But if you aren't there, it's not going to stop us" I finish wrapping myself around Sam's arm, and he gives me a firm squeeze as confirmation.
It's quiet a really long time and when no one says anything, I feel Sam lean over to kiss my forehead. "We should probably get our stuff."
I nod loosening my hold to follow him out.
"Exactly where do you think you're going?" Kurt sasses and I freeze turning back to look at him. "I know you're diva-ass didn't think it was gonna be that easy, especially with you only giving me a month to pull off the wedding of the century!"
I'm grinning from ear to ear as the entire group envelops us into a hug, eventually giving us their blessing.
~Jesse's POV~
"You do realize how crazy this all sounds, don't you?" Quinn smirks shaking her head. "An alliance, to sabotage Mercedes' wedding?"
"Why do you have to say it like that?" I ask. "This isn't sabotage, it's a rescue mission! You yourself implied how unstable their relationship is."
She sighs heavily as we stand in the kitchen opening up another bottle of champagne.
"Quinn, you and I both know that when it comes to Sam..." I say lowering my voice until the sounds of conversation in the dining room pick up. "Mercedes is a puddle."
"Yeah, I know but this time she seems really happy-"
"Until he breaks her heart, and I don't want that for my friend" I argue. "You are the only one who'll appreciate my honest intentions. I thought, we could work together to make them both see reason."
"You mean out of everyone here, Mercedes and I are still the closest. And I'm your best chance at getting through to her-"
"Aha! Found ya!" Santana says coming into the kitchen holding a glass of champagne. "Ya'll think ya'll slick."
She eyes us suspiciously and Quinn rolls her eyes before reaching around to put away some left-overs. "You're drunk, San."
"Nah-Nah-Nah-Nah-Nah" she says waving a hand in the air. "I've just got a good buzz...besides, any one paying attention can see you two plotting to stop this wedding. And I'm here to tell you, that if you try to mess anything up...I will go all Lima Heights Adjacent on ya'll asses."
"Oh please. You say that every time, and someone conveniently holds you back preventing you from doing anything" I say unimpressed. "Besides. If you were really a friend to Mercedes-"
"Why do you think I'm in here now? I'm going to stop you, if it's the last thing I do," She sasses draining the last swig in her glass. "Besides if this is what they want, who are we to judge? They deserve to be happy, especially Mercedes."
"I know that" I groan. "I know that better than anyone. And I want her happy, just not with Sam."
"Why?" She challenges and I groan again.
"Because, she deserves better" I half hiss and she shakes her head once more before starting to leave the kitchen.
"I'm warning you two, you do anything to mess this up" she threatens before rejoining the party.
When I look at Quinn she's frowning clearly deep in thought.
"Well?" I ask.
"Give me some time to think about it...okay?" She winces wiping her hands on a nearby cloth. "I need to make sure this is right thing, and not just what I want."
"Just don't take too long...we only have a month."