I'm back & I'm so sorry for the stall. My aunt's & grandmother's deaths have hit my hard & as a result, uploading has taken a backseat. I will try to be better so don't leave me please.

NJPNJPNJP

Mercedes & Mike fell into a routine after that. They had many of the same medically inclined classes & studied together often. They worked out at the gym & Mike's studio for their other work. They were together most of their days & spent plenty of time in each others rooms.

Dr. Jones was happy to know Mike was in the dorm since Puck moved out. They both got a kick out of that. It was smooth sailing. With only a few hiccups...

I want to touch her so bad! Mike bit his lip & tried to concentrate on the movie. They were in the common area of their dorm & someone put on The Amazing Spider-Man. Everyone in the sitting area was hugged up & he wanted to be, too. He wondered if she felt the same.

Mercedes reached for the popcorn he held in his lap but missed as she stroked his abs. He stilled as she reached again. She finally just looked at what she was doing & grabbed a handful of popcorn. This girl!

Mike released his breath but couldn't actually relax. He was going crazy just being friends. He couldn't go back to how it used to be because his feelings had changed. Obviously hers hadn't.

M&MC

Mercedes heard Mike's groan from the dressing room. She opened the door slightly & stuck her head out. "Problems?"

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Yes! Come out! I'm bored!"

She laughed. "I told you I was going shopping, Chang! What did you expect?"

"For you to be faster!"

She closed the door but she knew he could still hear her laughing. Seriously, she eyed herself in the mirror. She liked the dress but wasn't sure it was right. Maybe I should ask him?

She turned the lock & stepped outside. "What do you think?" She looked up to see his slack jawed expression. "Mike!"

He shook himself. "Yeah?"

"What do you think?" She gestured to herself.

He cocked his head. "Amazing."

She flushed & tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thank you."

"Really amazing." He couldn't seem to get past that.

"So I should get it?"

"I'll buy it for you!"

She laughed. "You're so messy!" She headed back to the dressing room. Shopping with Mike was better than shopping with Kurt!

M&MC

That night Mike couldn't stop thinking about that dress. It was alright on the hanger but on her? Amazing. He had to wipe up his drool!

When she had went back to change, an older (than him) lady sauntered over & winked at him. "My husband could stand to take a couple lessons from you!"

The man in question walked closer. "Don't believe her, son! I give her compliments. Their problem is the more you give them, the more they want. Your girl's normal for now but just you wait til you marry her!"

Mike had blushed so hard; he thought his face was going to sprout lava. "Oh?"

The woman swung her purse at her husband. "He's just a big baby! Don't listen to him. You & your girlfriend are so cute. You'd have the best looking kids!"

"& now she's wishing kids on you!" The man rolled his eyes. "Just because you're pregnant, doesn't mean everyone else should be, too!"

"Oh hush, Harry!"

"They look like they're in high school." Harry continued.

"College." Mike interjected. These people were hilarious.

"They could handle a baby now!" She pouted.

"I'm sure they can, Amber." Harry rubbed her stomach soothingly. "But they should be older. With jobs."

"We have jobs." Mike couldn't resist. He hoped Mercedes wouldn't come out too soon & blow his cover.

"Ha!"

Harry swatted Amber's hands away. "Doing what?"

"She's a recording artist & I'm in choreography." He just didn't mention the gig was through school.

"Really?!" Amber's eyes widened. "They're famous! Take a picture with me!"

Harry squinted at Mike. "For all we know, they're child stars that are hiding out."

Mike laughed. "No, sir."

"Take the picture, Harry!" Amber dug through her purse & emerged with a camera.

Harry rolled his eyes but took the picture anyway.

"& now I want an autograph!"

"Amber!"

Mike really liked these people. "I don't mind."

"Thank you, son. Pregnancy hormones make her the Blair Witch!" Harry eyed his happy wife with fear. "You'll see soon."

Mike couldn't help but think of him & Mercedes having children. I'm as bad as Sam! He def. empathized with his friend now.

Amber sought out her autograph book & shoved it & a pen under Mike's nose. "We're here on vacation before the baby comes & I bought this just in case!"

Mike took the items & scrawled his name. "That's a good idea."

Amber beamed. "Thank you!"

"Can we stop bothering the boy now?" Harry whined.

"No!" Amber stamped her foot. "I want to wait for-"

"Mercedes."

"Yeah. Mercedes." Amber turned to Mike. "That's a pretty name."

He wasn't paying attention. The girl in question had emerged from the dressing room in her street clothes & took his breath away.

She walked to him & set the clothes in his lap. "I'm going to get these."

"All of them?!"

"Mikey!" She pleaded & wrapped her arms around him. "I can't bear to put any of them back."

"You better wear them all the time!" He threatened playfully.

She wiggled. "I promise!"

He sighed heavily. "I guess!"

"Yay!" She jumped away & clapped. He simply shook his head at her. They'd been playing this game for years.

"Can I have your autograph?" Amber was near bursting with feels at the scene.

Mercedes looked confused. "Excuse me?"

"My wife & I don't mean to interrupt your day with your boyfriend but she has a thing for famous people." Harry apologized. "Can she get a quick picture & autograph? He already gave us one."

"Sure." Mike knew Mercedes was totally confused but gracious enough to do this small favor.

Afterwards, Amber looked at them wistfully. "Maybe we can name our child after you."

"We don't even know what we're having." Harry looked exasperated. "& we should think of names ourselves."

"But how cool would it be to name our kid after famous people!" Amber's eyes lit up. "If it's a girl, Mercedes. If a boy, Mike. They're normal names. No one would tease them!"

Mike & Mercedes looked at each other. This lady was crazy!

"I was looking forward to a Harry Jr. but the names aren't bad." Harry thought aloud. "Especially if we have a girl. I agree." He decided.

Amber clapped. "I can't wait to tell my mom."

Harry's face dropped. "Okay, let's go before they sic their security on us."

"Bye!" Amber waved. Harry waved also as he led his wife away.

"Bye!" Mike & Mercedes waved though the couple couldn't see them.

"What the hell just happened?!"

Mike couldn't answer as he was too busy laughing off the bench.

He smiled now as he thought over the day. It was good but that shopping trip was one for the books!

In the end, he did buy that dress for her. It looked too good on her not to. Mike didn't really know clothes or especially women's clothing but he knew what looked good. & that dress looked good!

It was simple, black, sleeveless & stopped right above her knees. It billowed when she moved & lay just right against her skin. Damn right, he bought that dress!

He turned over in his bed & read the clock. 2:32 AM. He groaned. He had an early morning but couldn't sleep to save his life!

He thought about the couple's assumption about his & Mercedes's relationship status. He would be a liar if he said it didn't make him a little excited. If other people could see it, why couldn't she?

He had of course thought about his future with Tina but she was his first actual girlfriend so the concept was pretty far off. They had a good relationship while it lasted but he wasn't suffering from any deep regret. He never dreamt of their children or thought too long about when they'd get married. He figured it'd probably happen & just waited for things to fall into place. Everything was easy for them. He liked that. But then they'd broke up & he was sad to not have someone in his corner.

He grinned in the dark as he thought about how he, Quinn & Mercedes had reconnected. It was exactly what he needed. Relationships come & go but friendship was forever. Until he remembered the small crush he'd always had on Mercy.

The small crush that bloomed over the months away in Chicago when he decided that many of the things that used to be important to him paled vividly in comparison now. The crush that deepened as he realized that he couldn't stop thinking about her. The one that had him contacting her every single day in some form or another.

He knew this feeling was different because he also had a small crush on Quinn a few years back. They were his first after all. But what he felt for Mercedes was deeper. It transcended his feelings for Tina. Though he had loved her, the feelings for Mercy were astronomical.

By the time Thanksgiving had rolled around, he knew he was on the verge of telling her his feelings. When they had sex, he figured they'd slide back into their routine & he'd tell her later but her refusal to consider him made his blood boil.

Learning about Puck hurt his heart. Why did Puck get everything? He took Quinn from Finn. Got a precious baby girl out of it. He hooked up with countless girls, including Brittana. Got street cred out of it. He was sent to juvie. Got Artie as a bud. He was sent on a porty potty ride. Got a kickass girlfriend out of it!

He was homeless in LA. Got Mercy out of it.

Mike couldn't understand it. What did Puck have that he didn't?! He didn't want to bear Quinn's kids. He knew her too well to deal with Q-Card's crazy side. The first time was enough for everybody! He also wouldn't have wanted to come between Brittana either. They had had such a long road but he knew they'd make it. Nor did he want to hook up with random chicks. STDs weren't what he was interested in.

Artie was his boy but to be honest he wasn't sure what was up with him either. He & Tina seem to be out of it & he didn't want to get mixed up in that mess. It was so high school & he was finding out, he was so college. Plus, who wants to go to juvie?! No, Mike was good.

He also didn't think riding in a portable toilet was a great idea. That was a fate he'd leave altogether. He liked Lauren though. Didn't want her but he liked her. But the kicker was Mercy. There's no way in hell he'd want to go through what Sam went through two years ago but he would; if it meant he got her.

He sat up slightly as he thought of a theory. She hooked up with him while he was homeless. She hooked up with Puck when he was homeless. Maybe she had a thing for homeless dudes?

No. he thought to himself. Shane wasn't homeless. He lay back down. "But she also didn't love Shane."

He frowned as he realized he spoke aloud & looked at his snoring roommate. Still asleep.

Mike didn't know what to do about his situation. He fought everyday not to bring up the relationship question with Mercedes. He fought every minute not to touch her the way he figured he deserved. He was sick of fighting!

He'd call Quinn tomorrow. He needed help.

How do you like my AintShit! Mike? He probably needs a little less caring but he's so cute & sweet that I can't have him too crazy. Also, that Amber & Harry thing was an accident for about two seconds before I just went for it.