"Sam m'boy!" Mr. Fabray greets excitedly as Sam enters the house without Mercedes, so it doesn't look suspicious. "How are you?! Haven't seen you in a while!"

"Sorry, sir. I've just been real busy" Sam says looking at a twisted mouth Quinn who's sitting quietly in a corner of the parlor. "What are you doing here?" Sam says looking more to Quinn than Mr. Fabray.

Mr. Fabray grabs him by the shoulders and squeezes them playfully. "Just havin' a drink with your dad, makin' plans for the future...you should take a seat with us."

"I'm sorry I can't" Sam says preparing to leave but Mr. Fabray's grip becomes tighter. He looks around the room for his father but he's nowhere to be seen.

"Come now" Mr. Fabray says with a little more emphasis. "I insist."

Sam looks him directly in the eye completely unafraid. "Where's my father?"

"He stepped out for a minute" Mr. Fabray says restricting Sam to a nearby chair. "Perfect time for us to talk."

Sam glares at him annoyed, not looking forward to this conversation.

"Mercedes! Thank God!" Flora shouts rushing to hug the girl who's about to walk in the back door of the kitchen. "Where've you been all this time?! Your mama's been looking all over for you!"

"Sorry, I lost track of the time" Mercedes apologizes stepping away from the laundry line. She's about to ask Flora where she is so she can go meet her but she's cut off by the loud shouts from inside the house.

Before Flora can stop her, or before she can stop herself Mercedes is rushing into the house to see what's going on.

"That's your answer boy?" Mr. Fabray growls into Sam's face. "You're refusin' my daughter for some nigger?"

"I'll ask you to leave if you refer to her that way again-"

"You can't be serious! Quinn is the natural choice for your wife and she'll make an excellent partner-"

"I don't think you understand Mr. Fabray-"

"You don't understand Sam" he laughs frustrated. "I will not take no for an answer...you will marry Quinn."

"You can't force me to marry her...if she was the last person in South Carolina I'd still wouldn't be with her."

Mr. Fabray gives him a dark wide smile. "What's this nigger's name?"

"I told you not to call her that" Sam threatens with a glare.

"Is she pretty, with large..." Mr. Fabray raises his eyebrows with a chuckle; Sam can feel his fingers start to curl into a fist. "Will you show her to me? The sinful dirt that's stained your pure future as a man-"

"That's enough!" Mr. Evans shouts from another entrance way. "It's time for you to go Peter."

Mr. Fabray stumbles back a little surprised. "Surely you don't accept this?"

"What I don't accept is someone who insults my son" Mr. Evans says with a look. "Leave now, before you outwear your welcome."

Mr. Fabray smirks grabbing his hat from a nearby table. "Come Quinn..."

Quinn rises from her seat quietly and follows her father out of the house. Everyone's starting to breathe a little easier and not caring about who sees them; Mercedes and Sam are immediately walking to each other.

"I was so scared" Mercedes says into Sam's chest squeezing him to her tightly.

"Hey" Sam says cupping her face to look at him. "Didn't I say I'd take care of you? You don't have to be scared-"

"You shouldn't make promises you can't keep Master Sam" Delilah says coming out of nowhere. "This isn't safe and it's not right either-"

"You can't say that" Sam says cutting her off. "You two know exactly how it is."

Both Sam and Mercedes are looking at their parents who look speechless.

"Then we have no choice" Delilah says decidedly to Mr. Evans. "You have to send us away, as soon as you can-"

"I'm not going with you" Mercedes speaks up.

"You'll go where I say we go" Delilah says starting to get upset.

"I'll runaway first" Mercedes answers with her mind made up.

"How?" Her mother almost laughs. "A slave. No money, no help, no job...how far do you think you can get?"

"Colorado" Sam finishes.

Mr. Evans, who's been pretty quiet throughout this entire conversation, is looking at Sam like he's lost it. "Colorado! What the hell is in Colorado?!"

"Our ranch" Sam says confident. "Puckerman and I are going into business together."

Everyone looks at Noah and he gives Delilah and Mr. Evans a polite nod. "Howdy."

"Mercedes please tell me you weren't thinking of going with them?" Delilah says grabbing her daughter's arm forcing her to look at her.

"Mama" she whines. "I had to go; it was the only way we could be together...besides he'll die out there alone."

Mr. Evans is the only one who decides to laugh. Delilah glares at him coldly before hitting him on the arm.

"This isn't funny!" She shouts.

"But she's right Del" he laughs harder. "Sam would die out there...on some ranch in where? Colorado?"

Delilah looks like she's going to explode. "Our kids were running away and-"

"They aren't kids anymore Del" Mr. Evans says looking at the two of them. "But I am gonna have a talk with Sam...Sam?"

Sam gives Mercedes' hand a final squeeze before following his dad to the study. Mercedes is left in the parlor with her mother and eventually Noah walks out of the room so the two of them could talk. The two of them stare at each other for a while, until Mercedes can't take it anymore.

"I'm not sure what you want me to say" Mercedes says starting the conversation.

"I'm not sure what I can say" Delilah surprises the both of them by laughing. "I don't mean to put Sam down...I know he's a good boy, one who'll look after you and take care of you...but-"

"But what mama?"

"You can't be together" she says and Mercedes rolls her eyes. "At least not in the way he's trying to make you be together...they can't marry us."

"Not here, but maybe out there" Mercedes argues. "I know people won't consider us married, but in the sight of God...we are...that's where it counts."

Delilah sighs deeply. "But why so far away?"

"Sam's trying to escape the pressure to marry."

"You both know it'll happen eventually"

Mercedes ducks her head and smiles. "Sam says as long as I'm breathin' he'll want no one else..."

"Is that so?" Mr. Fabray smirks walking back into the house. "I reckon I have to be the one to change his mind."

Mr. Fabray is shakily holding a Root Revolver in his hand pointing it directly to Mercedes. Two shots that are fired off can distinctly be heard throughout the house. Then another...then another...

When Mr. Evans and Sam enter the parlor it looks unreal. Three bodies lying on the floor...and a fourth struggling to his feet. Mr. Evans looks into the face of his dying love, before storming into a rage after Peter Fabray. Another shot is fired, and then another before Mr. Evans has tackled him to the ground. Sam is frozen for a minute or two not at all sure what to do until he hears Noah groan. Sam checks him first seeing the blood oozing out from his leg.

"You need help" Sam says almost frantic.

"Stop worrying about me, go check Mercedes!" Noah groans pushing Sam away from him.

Sam crawls across the room to check on his beloved. Parts of her body are buried under a bookshelf of books that have collapsed. Sam hastily removes the books away and begins cradling her. "Mercedes?"

She's not answering...

"Mercedes?" Sam calls again propping her up so he can hold her. "Mercedes answer me..."

He searches her body for signs of injury but he can't tell, her clothes are too bloody...

Mercedes begins fluttering her eyes awake slowly trying to regain focus. "Mama?"

"No, it's Sam."

"Sam?" She cries.

"Yes, I'm here" Sam says kissing her forehead. "Are you hurt?"

"My mom...check my mom" she grunts.

"Dad!" Sam yells. "Check on Delilah!"

Mr. Evans leaves Mr. Fabray's somewhat unconscious body to go check on Delilah.

"Oh Del..."

He kneels beside her to find her breathing with effort, she's shaking a little and her eyes are tearing up. "Hey Dwight."

She's been shot at least twice, but there is so much blood it's difficult to tell where. One thing Mr. Evans knows for sure is she doesn't have much time. He scoops her into his arms and holds her close. "You're gonna be fine...you're gonna be fine..."

"I know" she says softly. "Because I had you...I was always more than fine...I just should've told you more."

"Stop it" Mr. Evans says swallowing back the urge to cry. "You're going to be alright."

She gives him a tearful laugh.

"You wanna know why?" He says holding her tight. "Because I say so."

She smiles even bigger as a few tears roll down her cheek. "You...were always...so...stubborn."

That does it...Mr. Evans is now crying holding her even tighter than before. "I love you" he kisses her brown cheek softly.

Her whispers are weak. "Take care of Mercedes."

"I promise" Mr. Evans chokes out.

"Remember what you told me? About the sky?" She says smiling.

Mr. Evans is fighting a loosing battle; his tears are falling more frequently and he can't stop them. "Yes I remember"

"Then smile" she sighs exhaling her last breath...

Later...

Mercedes sits on the floor of the shed curled into a ball on the floor. She can't stop crying, today was too difficult. She can't help but feel guilty. Her mother died today, in an attempt to save her from Mr. Fabray. She feels cold...she feels numb...she can't think straight...she can't think at all.

Minutes later Sam stands in the doorway of their place. He doesn't knock but enters in quietly, content with sitting beside her. Everywhere he goes someone he loves seems to be in a mess...his dad seems darker. The jolly, happy man has disappeared and left behind a shell of depression. All work has been canceled and all workers sent home. Sam isn't sure how to feel. He loved Del greatly, but secretly he's glad that she was able to sacrifice herself for Mercedes. He wouldn't know how to handle the death of Mercedes; he's quite sure he would've become insane. Not being able to ever touch her, or hold her, or hear her laugh or watched her smile. He sympathizes with his father unable to imagine being able to live through that kind of pain...

She turns to look at him, her eyes are puffy and red from crying. She looks at him hard, silently thanking God that nothing happened to him. She already feels extremely guilty for loosing her mother, but if it had been Sam she would've felt much worse.

"Sam" her voice asks shakily. "Will you do something for me?"

"Anything" Sam says without hesitation.

Mercedes breathes deeply trying to collect her words. "I don't want to feel..."

Sam frowns. "You don't want to feel what?"

She doesn't answer with a sentence but brings herself closer forcing her lips to meet his.

"Make love to me?"

"Now?" Sam says taken off guard.

"I don't want to feel anything, but you, with me" she says looking at him with a burning intensity. "Please?"

Sam can't refuse, especially after the day she's been through. He takes in a deep breath beginning to unbutton his shirt. Mercedes shows no emotion as she lies back on the blanket on the floor. Sam slowly rolls himself to where she is and pulls down the fabric of her shirt, kissing her bare shoulder. He nuzzles her neck with his nose kissing her neckline softly, skillfully undoing the strings to her shirt. Her full breasts spill out one by one as Sam kisses the nearest one. Mercedes closes her eyes as Sam's teeth slowly graze her nipple until it becomes hard. His teeth tug and pull down playfully as he squeezes and pinches it's twin. He spends equal time pleasuring her breasts before slowly kissing her stomach, dipping his warm tongue into her belly button, and continuing his way down. Mercedes thinks she knows what's about to happen next, but Sam has a surprise for her...he wants to give her something special. She told him that she didn't want to feel anything but him...well tonight he was going to give her exactly that.

Sam slides Mercedes underwear off, and her legs open wide ready to receive him. Her soft scent makes him hard, and even though he wants to ravage her right then and there, he reminds himself that this is about her...this is to comfort her...therefore he will deny himself for the time being. He makes light trails with his lips on her inner thighs and she's starting to make these high pitched sighs. Sam starts to move his technique a little more inward, as his tongue starts to lick and lap at her outer lips. Her pink coloring contrasts with her brown, practically giving him a roadmap on where to please her. His kiss are more deeper and lower as he begins to lick her inside...she involuntarily clenches her muscles and rises up a little at the new feeling. Sam's tongue makes a quick sweep up to her clit and Mercedes lets out a short gasp.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes," she begs. "Don't stop please?"

With each kiss and lick Mercedes can feel her lower parts start to throb in sheer need...Sam's lips are now wrapping themselves around her tiny bud and the way he's sucking and tugging and flicking his tongue is driving her insane. She feels herself start to push herself down onto his mouth even more, but it's not enough...she wants this feeling to intensify and continue. Her hands find his head and press him down even more; her hands rake through his head as he sucks and kisses her even more.

"Sam" Mercedes gasps.

Sam keeps his hot mouth on her clit, continuing the wonderful feeling before adding a single finger into her wet center. Mercedes let's out a whine, feeling the dual sensation. Sam adds another finger, and soon Mercedes is squeezing her muscles together to deepen her oncoming orgasm. The overwhelming sense of pleasure is just what she needed, and as her body releases its natural chemicals into Sam's awaiting mouth...for a few moments she's able to forget the tragedy of the day.

A/N: alright...i know this chapter was...yeah lol i cried a tad when writing it, but good news is there won't be any really really bad stuff happening for a while...

other Glee characters should be making their appearances fairly soon, and i apologize if any language was offensive to anyone...usaully you guys allow me to write "somewhat-true to the times" and i appreciate that...

Thank you for reading as always, and your reviews...much love...pce!

P.S: also too, i think i'm going to start another Samcedes Fanfic because sometimes i feel the material i write in this one is too heavy sometimes, so i'm gonna write something else and set it in present day where Sam and Mercedes meet in some random place and have a sweet/romantic romance so keep a look-out for that...okay, pce!