A/N: I had to bring his ass back to the present! Y'all can go ahead and say it y'all missed him. Lls. I'm back! 3 post in one day again I'm on a roll!
Enjoy! Happy reading!
That morning after Mercedes called her parents….
Bernice's POV
"Look at this picture right here Joshua." I shoved my phone in his face and he squinted while covering his eyes to block the glare.
"Honey it's 2 in the morning. When are you going to put the phone down?"
"I can't! TJ's so adorable and hearing him call me granny for the first time and you granddaddy did that not tug at your heartstrings."
"It did. I was trying to get some sleep but let me see those pictures of our grandson." I handed Joshua the phone and l laid over on him while we opened up each text smiling and crying at the same time. "Oh, look at that mean mug he's giving."
"Looks like JJ. I'm so happy 'Cedes pulled this child. Hopefully she doesn't have another one until she's married. Why no pictures of Tank with TJ all of these are selfies of her and TJ or just TJ?"
"Baby you really want to see him with our grandson."
"This is the eighth time you've said our grandson."
"I know because it sounds so good to my ears. Our grandson. Our grandson! OUR GRANDSON!"
"Joshua it's late."
"I don't care I just needed to yell it. Think we should get shirts and mugs made and plaster his face all over them. I'm a granddaddy! Now I can be one of those grandfather's showing his grandkid to the other parishioners in our church and anyone who asks."
"They are going to not like seeing us coming because you're going to have the men and I'll have the ladies besides if Sister Jenkins shoves her flip phone into my face one more time to show me her grandchild I'm going to flip."
"Now Bernice.."
"What? It's true! I have to squint and its dark I don't know what I'm looking at besides who still has a flip!"
"Come to think of it that's true. When I be looking at the picture all I'm seeing is two circles Think I can get a tie with his image."
"You read my mind. I was thinking about a hankie for me." Joshua and I stayed up the rest of the night wondering how we were going to get all of these pictures off of our phone and get them to the place so we can annoy people with TJ's sweet face. I think we need JJ to stop by to help out his semi-knowing-yet-confused-parents.
2 days later…
Sam's POV
TJ finally came off his punishment and he's happy and so is his buddy Uncle Stevie I thought I was going to be able to lounge around the house but something popped up that I needed to take care of in San Diego for 3 days which means I'm leaving my son and wife (yeah, I said wife, girlfriend doesn't suit her) 3 whole long days. When I told TJ about the news he wasn't happy and neither was Mercedes. I'm packing up the last of my clothes and 'Cedes is sitting on the bed with TJ watching me pack.
"I don't want you to go daddy."
"I don't want to either but I have to. It's only 3 days. Here is my shirt you can wear this at night and today at dinner you can sit in my chair that's until I get back."
"Okay." He got off the bed and leaving the room.
"Where's my hug and kiss?" He came back over and I hugged which seemed forever kissed him on the side of his head and set him down. "3 days."
"3 days." He left the room and my baby is just looking at me. I zipped up my luggage and sat beside her. "Usually I head up to San Diego and come back home but this is my first trip where I'm going to be away from your guys. This will be the first of many I don't want to go but I don't want to leave y'all."
"I don't want you to leave either but baby we'll be fine. Stevie is here and so is Puck we'll talk on the phone and text it'll be fine."
"Why are you so good at this? I'm not."
"It's the artist in me trust me I'm not that good. I hate goodbyes."
We headed downstairs and I already had a talk with Stevie and Puck that if anything happens no matter what time call me. Don't stress out Mercedes and don't take TJ back to that park until I return. I still want to see these kids who know about it. "Yeah, well I got to go I'll call you when I get there. Tell TJ daddy loves him and I love you to little one." I kissed her belly. "Guys make sure my wife and son is safe."
"We will!" They yelled heading into the game room. "Alright baby. I gotta go now." I kissed her and went to the car put my luggage in the trunk and got in the car looked at her standing there turned the car on and drove off as the house got smaller and smaller. "Jesus protect my family while I'm away. I know I got Puck and Stevie there to watch out but I need a high power. Amen".
Mercedes POV
I closed the door and I leaned my head back against it. 3 days without Sam that's the longest we've been apart since we've gotten back together. 2 days ago we called my parents and this trip pops up the next day. I wasn't expecting this.
"Jesus watch over us. I know Sam has got Puck and Stevie here but we need someone to watch over all of us. Get him there safe and bring him back safe. Amen." I walked to over to the couch and I sat down and looked at the door an hour went by.
"Three whole days." I heard TJ say as I heard his little feet coming down the stairs I looked back and TJ was wearing the shirt Sam gave him to wear at night.
"TJ I thought daddy said for you to wear this at night."
"He did but I miss him already."
"Aww…join mommy and we can sulk together." He joined me on the couch and laid his hid in my lap.
"Jesus make these 3 day go by fast I miss daddy already. Amen." TJ perked up a few hours later and joined his uncles in the game room I had to pull him and his uncles out a few hours later so they can eat dinner and TJ got to sit in daddy's chair because he said he could and TJ was happy. Sam arrived and he sent a text to show me what TJ put in his luggage.
"TJ, daddy sent you a text."
"He did!"
"Come look." I opened the text and it was a picture of Sam holding a bear that TJ put in his luggage. "When did you do this?"
"Last night. I put him in there so he can keep daddy happy."
"Aww….he's Facetiming us. Hit accept." TJ hit accepted and Sam appeared on the screen in his apartment.
"Hey! I miss you guys."
"We miss you too daddy. You got bear Mr. Mustache."
"Yeah, I got him." Sam kissed him and TJ laughed. "When did you put him in there?"
"Last night. I thought you might be sad and you can be happy because Mr. Mustache is there with you."
"I am happy he's here with me wish it were you two. Hi mommy."
"Hi daddy. How was the drive?"
"Yes, it was safe all clear on the interstate. Only 3 days. I'll be back; home before you know it."
"Yeah, I know."
"Where's Puck and Stevie?"
"Out back throwing the glow in the dark Frisbee."
"I thought they'd be in the game room."
"Change of plans."
"Well, I got to go I have an early start in the morning. I love you. TJ give daddy kiss." TJ kissed the screen. "Babe." I did the same. "Alright I'll call you when I have a chance. Night."
"Night daddy. Night Baby." He ended the FaceTime. After Sam FaceTime us I gave TJ a bath and I took a shower we said our prayers and I tucked TJ and I went to the bedroom a few minutes later I heard a knocked at the door.
"Yes!" I yelled out as the door opened.
"Mommy, can I sleep with you?"
"Come on over here." He closed the door and got in bed.
"Comfortable?"
"Now I am."
"Good night."
"Good night mommy."
2 days have gone by and Sam is almost set to come home! I can't wait to have him back in the house Puck and Stevie are doing a good job around here with all of the odds and ends but no one fill my hubby's shoes.
"Hey I'm heading on out to Target I'm taking TJ with me I just wanted you to know if you didn't hear him."
"Okay Puck. What are y'all getting at Target and please don't say video games?"
"A book?" He answered not looking at me.
"Uncle Puck let's go get that video game!" TJ yelled coming down the stairs.
"What was that about a book?"
"Nothing. Come on TJ!" I looked up from my book and the door was closing behind them all they do is play video games I won't be surprised if they dreamed about them.
Tank's POV
Doing some retail therapy you know buying something for me and my momma. I was over in the movie section looking through their DVDs when my mother tapped me.
"Tank, isn't that TJ?"
"Yeah that's him. I wonder if he's here with Mercedes. Let's go over there." Ma and I rolled our cart over to where TJ and this white dude were standing. They were in the electronics section at Target looking over the games.
"You want to get this game?"
"Yeah."
"TJ." I said as he turned around looking at me wide eyed. "You're not going to speak to your daddy or grandma. Come over here give me a hug."
"No!"
"Um..sir who are you and why are you bothering my nephew?" The guy put his arm around TJ.
"Nephew?! Mercedes got white people in her family!"
"Who are you?" My mother asked him.
"Who I am is not important? Why are you bothering my nephew and me?"
"He ain't your nephew! That bitch still over there playing house Tank!"
"You're Tank?"
"Yeah, I'm Tank. You know where Mercedes staying at?"
"I do but I'm not telling you."
"Why not?!" I got up in his face and he moved TJ behind him.
"I'm just not. Point, blank, period! Who the hell do you think you are?"
"I'm Tank!"
"So, what does that mean? You're Tank. That's supposed to make me afraid of you?"
"Hell yeah!"
"I think not. Leave me and my nephew alone so we can shop."
"I'm not going anywhere until my son tells me where his mother is at!"
Some customers went and got the security guard and he came over while some of the shoppers stopped shopping to be nosy. "Sir, what's going on?"
"He has my son!"
"Do you have his son sir?"
The guy looked around like he was offended. "First off he's my nephew secondly you can call his mother and she'll tell you that he came to the store with me. Third he's interrupting our shopping experience 4th you should be asking me first not this punk."
"Okay let's go to my office get this worked out. Sir you go first I'm going to walk in between the both of y'all.
"Better!"
Puck's POV
I looked down and saw TJ crying. I picked TJ up and followed the security guard to some backroom where his office was. Thankfully it was big enough to have two sides Tank and his mother sat one side TJ and me on the other. This is Tank. The fool motherfucker that got my sister pregnant! Yeah, we a family! Families don't have to match.
"TJ it's going to be okay."
"I want mommy and daddy."
"Daddy is right there, baby." Tank's mother said TJ gave her the stank face.
"Not him, my real daddy." TJ said emphasis on the word real.
"What's the number?" The security guard asked.
"I'll call." I dialed the number and Mercedes picked up the phone. "Sis, are you sitting down. Okay. TJ and I ran into a little something at the Target. No, TJ's fine. I think but you need to come down to Target. Don't drive! Get Stevie to drive you down here."
Mercedes POV
"Stevie!" I yelled.
"What?" He yelled peeking out of the game room.
"We need to go to Target. Now! Something happened and I need to get down there."
"Okay. Okay. Okay. Let me go put on my shoes and we'll go."
I couldn't wait for him Stevie in the house and I waited by his car 5 minutes later he came out and secured the house and ran over to his vehicle hitting the button to open it. "What happened at Target?"
"I don't know but I think this might involve my ex."
"Oh shit we got to get there fast!"
Stevie drove like a madman but I got here in once piece despite the fact that I was hitting him in the process he dropped me off in front of Target and I ran inside looking for the security office. "Excuse me do you know where the security office is."
"Yeah, I'll show you."
"Thank you." He showed me to the office I stepped in and TJ runs over to me. "What happened?" I asked Puck while TJ was crying into my shirt.
"Hi Mercedes long time no see." I looked down and started at his feet going all the way up to I got his face. "Tank."
"Yeah, it's me in the flesh. Thought you were going to get me for domestic violence." He was pointing his finger at me in my face.
"Stop pointing that long ass finger of yours in my sisters face or I'm going to break it!" Puck yelled.
"Mommy I want to go home."
"See TJ wants to come home with his daddy, right."
"No! I HATE YOU!"
"You what?!"
"I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!" TJ yelled at the top of his lungs.
"I hate your ass too then punk ass! Baby ass motherfucker."
"Don't ever yell at your father!" Ms. Bertha yelled at TJ.
"He not my daddy!"
"Yes, I am! I'm the one the knocked your mother up!"
"Tank you got me drunk!"
"Wait what?!" Stevie said coming into the security officer room and Puck pushed me behind him so Puck and Stevie made a V shape protecting TJ and me.
"She got 2 white brothers! What kind of lop-sided Oreo shit is this?!"
"Calm down. Calm down" The security guard said.
"Shut your punk ass up!
"Who the fuck you talking to?! You shut up your damn self. Now I'm trying to figure out who this child came to the store with. Ma'am did he come to the store with him?" He asked pointing at Puck.
"He came with his Uncle Puck, my brother."
"Okay. Sir, why did you say that he came with you?"
"She took my son and ran off!"
"You got some nerve you're the reason why I left. You hit me Tank! You abused me!"
"He hit you?!" Stevie and Puck said at the same time Puck was inches away from his face but Stevie pulled him back. I knew they both wanted to go at him.
"He's not worth it. Not with TJ around."
"He didn't hit you; you need to stop it with that bullshit! Come on Tank let's go before lop-sided Oreo want to duke it out in the parking lot."
"We can duke it out! Tell me where I'll be there!" Puck said following them to the door.
"White boy getting buck!"
"I'll show you buck!
"Come on Ma let's go."
Tank and his mother left the security office room and it left Puck, Stevie, me and the security guard we're just shaking our heads. Puck eventually punched the wall and he calmed down some but he was still heated. "Oooh…I wanted to break his neck! That's Tank little bitch ass!" He clenched his fist and grunted.
"Puck." I titled my head at TJ who was looking at him.
"Sorry. I'm just upset."
"I've never seen anything like that before that gave me headache. I'm going to go pop some pills to relieve it. You all can stay here for a while I'll make sure those fools leave the store and parking lot."
"Thanks."
We stayed back in the security room for like an hour until the security officer came back and then I was ready to go home. We all just needed to calm down some more before we showed our faces to the shoppers. "You want to ride back with Uncle Puck or you want to ride back with me and Uncle Stevie."
"I want to ride back with you."
"Okay." By now all of the aunts and uncles had boosters' seats so need to remove and install.
"TJ, you still want that game?" Puck asked TJ and he nodded his head. "I'll get the game and I'll see you back at the house."
"I want daddy."
"I know you do baby but Daddy is in San Diego."
Once we arrived back home I thought about taking TJ to his room but I took him our room and let him take his nap in there. I contemplated calling Sam but I needed to call him. First ring he picked up. "Babe, what's going on I have a meeting in 20 minutes." I stayed silent for 2 minutes. What's going on?" He asked with urgency in his voice.
"S-Something happened today while TJ and Puck were out."
"What?"
"They had a confrontation at Target."
"What? With who?"
"Tank and his mother baby I need you to come home now I need you." I started crying into the phone.
"I'll be there. Is Puck and Stevie still there?"
"Yeah, Stevie is here but Puck is on his way back here they said they not leaving until you get here and then again they may not be leaving then."
"I'll be home shortly!"
Sam's POV
I quickly packed my bags checked and called the coach on my way home I had a family emergency. I was Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jr. on the interstate changing from lane to lane. Cutting in front of folks. I didn't care if I got a ticket. The drive usually takes 2 hours but I did it in an hour in half. I pulled up parked my car and ran to the door fumbling to get my keys and 'Cedes just opened the door and I pulled her in for a hug and I hugged her very tight.
"Sam…"
"Sorry. I grabbed both sides of her face gave her multiple kisses. "Where's TJ?"
"He's sleep in our room."
"Okay let's go there." We went to the bedroom and saw TJ sleeping there and I just had to wake him up. "Daddy's here."
"Daddy you're home."
"Yeah, I'm home, son. I couldn't stay there and no longer once mommy called me I came home running. Do you want to tell me what happened earlier today?" He shook his head no and clung to me tightly. "Okay you don't have to talk about it you can just cuddle with mommy and I. You don't have to worry no more Daddy's home. Daddy's home." I glanced over at Mercy she was crying. "I'm home, baby. I'm home now". Mercy and TJ went to sleep but I had to get the bottom of this so I went and found Puck in the game room playing a very violent game and every person he shot he would say Tank or Tanks momma."
"Tank! Tanks momma! "Tank! Tanks momma!" Guts was just flying everywhere in the game.
"Puck." I waved my hand in front of his face.
"…Tanks momma. Tank. Tank!" He kept saying and I took the remote controller from his hand and he jumped.
"When did you get in?"
"An hour ago. Where's Stevie?"
"I don't know. When I got back Stevie hauled ass I was going to go after him but I wasn't going to leave TJ and Mercedes here alone."
"Why did this have to happen when I wasn't home?! Puck tell me what happened?"
He sighed. "TJ and I were over by the games I was asking him which game he wanted and all of sudden this dude calls out to TJ and TJ turned around and just looked at him. Tank asked TJ you not going to speak to you grandmother or daddy and then he asked for a hug, TJ said no. Then I'm like, sir who are you and then his mother wanted to jump into the conversation she said that Mercedes is over here playing house so we exchanged a few words and then some security officer come over to us and asks us what's going on. Tank says I have his son and then the security guard going to ask me "Do I?" Like it was the dumbest question to ask like TJ came in the store with me. So we head back to the security officer's room. TJ said he wanted you and Tank's mother yelled, "Your daddy is right there", and TJ followed up saying, "no my real daddy. Tank called TJ a punk ass and follows it up with bitch ass motherfucker. I wanted to hit him right then and there but TJ was in the room and it took everything in me to not put my hands on dude but I had TJ with me had TJ not been there dude would have been sorry he touched me."
"Shit you just wanted to spend time with TJ and this happens."
"Yeah, I really didn't want to call Mercedes but I had to I was happy Stevie was here with her because if no one wasn't here I don't know what she would have done."
"All of this and to top it off she's pregnant."
"Congratulations." He patted me on my shoulder.
"No, it's not my baby, it's his. You know what TJ said, he said, daddy why can't you do it to mommy and knock out Tank's baby and it can really be your baby".
"Kids got a point but do you want to raise this baby and deal with their bullshit. That family is crazy and only I've met his mother and him. Imagine the rest of them."
"I know but we got a crazy family too. Look at us but that's what Mercedes wants to do and I'm going to be here for it all."
"Sam you're a good guy. A lot of men couldn't do what you're doing raising another man's child but you know the saying, "Anybody can make a baby but it takes a real man to raise a child."
"Thanks. I'm the man I'm the man I man yes I am, yes I am, yes, I am"
"You plan on popping the question to Mercedes sometime in the future."
"Yeah, Stevie asked me that question a few days back but I'm going to answer it again I would love to one day but I want to do it right. Sit her father down ask for her hand, I'll ask TJ for his mommy's hand, let the girls take me out to find the perfect ring or I might just take TJ or Kurt and Blaine, find the location to propose, just say, Mercedes Renee Jones when you walked out of my life x amount of years ago I thought I lost my true love forever it took a fool to not cherish you the way that I've always cherished you and I'll forever will. I'm down on my knee because I have to ask you this question, and then TJ comes out with a little suit, tux or something and he says something like…daddy asked for my blessing and I said yes, now it's your turn to return the favor. Daddy, here's the ring and then I can say Mercedes will you marry me." I looked over at Puck and he was wiping tears. "Puck!"
"What? That's so beautiful. I can see TJ, now in a white tux but yeah. If you made me cry imagine Mercedes."
"I know. I know."
"So, what the hell are we going to do about Tank?"
A:N: There will not be a 4th post tonight! Maybe early in the morning who knows?! But zeejack be thinking how I be thinking! It's crazy how she knew what was on my trash page! She told me why and I cool with it. Such an imagination! I think the whole gang is going to meet up again! Sam's folks may come to town. Do y'all want to see him? Just let me know!