Chapter 7

"There you are. Finally found you."

Mercedes looked up to see Finn standing in front of her, his tall frame hunched over so that he could get more on her eye level.

She sighed, mentally lamenting the end of her moment of peace. Perhaps sitting on the main staircase in the house wasn't the best place to take a breather, but things had been relatively calm before Finn appeared, no one had even passed through the hallway at all.

It had been a hectic few hours whipping all the final pieces of the party together. She felt like she'd been running a marathon to get everything done in time. Now it was upon them, the family had arrived and was assembled in the living room, in their spots for the big surprise. Kurt would be bringing Sam downstairs very soon and the party would begin. The party before the party, that is. They had all decided it was best to ease Sam into his birthday, by giving him his surprise with just the family and then later his friends and colleagues would arrive.

"You were looking for me?" she asked him, when it was clear he wasn't going to get the hint and go away.

"Got so quiet around here without your yelling, I thought you might have snuck off the grounds."

"I wasn't yelling I was just taking control."

"Loudly." Finn laughed. "I'm just kidding. I was pretty impressed, you got all the last minute party stuff handled, had those men rushing around like crazy. All while wearing super high heels and a fancy dress."

"I'm a woman. It's what we do."

Mercedes had become an expert at putting a happy face on despair. As long as she could remember she had been dressing herself up, plastering on a smile, and parading through life as if everything was normal. All to cover for the unspeakable acts her mother made her do. She had mixed things up in her mind, misunderstood that love wasn't a commodity bartered and traded while being raised by Keisha Jones. Mercedes had actually thought that the more she did for her mother, the better she was, if she were prettier, smarter, she would somehow love her more and stop making her entertain her friends or give her body for money. It took her sixteen long years to realize that her mother didn't care about her and was never going to change. She finally stood up to her after that, tried to break free from her hold. Yet the lessons she had taught her never left, even now she still instinctively wanted to guard her emotions, keep a poker face, so no one could use them against her.

"True that. Reminded me of my mom. She's the same way, take charge, in control, now dressed to perfection thanks to Kurt." Finn stared down at his feet, a smile on his face, obviously lost in some memory.

"I've met your mom. She can be a little scary."

"That's only because you were underage trying to buy a drink in her bar," he said taking a seat beside her on the stairs. "Normally she's pretty cool."

"If you say so. I have to admit I avoid Scandals since I know a copy of my ID is hanging on the wall of shame."

"I sort of liked seeing your smiling face every time I stepped foot in the place. It was nice to see something pretty amongst all the mugshots." He laughed lightly. "Too bad it's gone now. You can thank Sue Evans Sylvester for that."

"Sue?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "According to my mom she came in one day in her fur coat and heels and demanded that my mom take that photo of you down."

"Why in the hell would Sue do something like that?" asked Mercedes finding it hard to believe a word of this story.

"She said that no Evans was going to be pasted on a wall like a common criminal and that her daughter-in-law deserved more respect than to be lumped with the local trash of Lima."

"OK that sounds like Sue. I just can't believe she was sticking up for me."

Mercedes knew Sue wasn't all bad. She couldn't be, after raising a son like Sam. Despite all his faults, he still was a good person at his core. She doubted Dwight was the one that gave Sam his good heart, so it had to be something that came from Sue.

"I thought you and Sue got along."

"We kind of do. I think she bites her tongue a lot around me because of Sam and what we've been through. Now that he's better, I think our little truce might be nearing an end."

Sue had a reputation for despising all of the women in her sons' lives. Mercedes figured her time would soon be coming and Sue would be after her too.

"I don't know about that. She speaks pretty highly of you. She was just saying how the house looks good all decorated for the party."

Mercedes raised her eyebrows skeptically. "That's surprising. She usually likes to criticize."

"Well she did ask why there wasn't a gift table set up."

"That would be because the invitations expressly said no gifts allowed."

"Yeah about that. Did you actually think anyone would follow that rule?" he asked. "Sam's been down for the count for almost a year. People are going to want to give him a little something."

Mercedes shrugged. "We have so much already. I just thought gifts would be unnecessary."

"Well Sue brought a gift, and Puck. Even I got him one."

"You, bought Sam a birthday gift?"

"I couldn't come here empty handed and he is my stepbrother's cousin."

"Finn I really appreciate all your help, especially with Kurt on Sam duty, but I know you have a party at the Gamma house tonight. You don't have to stay."

Guilt was creeping in as it always did whenever she stopped and thought about just how many people had been helping her while Sam was in the hospital. She owed so many favors, that she knew she could never possibly repay. And now here was Finn Hudson to add to the list, he had really stepped up during this party planning process. Kurt must have bribed him well.

"But I got all dressed up," he said standing up and stepping onto the floor so she could see his ensemble.

Black pants that actually were tailored to fit his tall build and a light blue button down shirt, sleeves rolled up, tails untucked. He looked pretty nice, better than his usual saggy jeans and wrinkled shirts.

"I know you don't really want to be here." She barely wanted to be there. She couldn't squash the awful feeling that the party was going to end in disaster. Why had she let Kurt talk into this?

There was still time if she left now, she could make it home before anyone noticed. Only she couldn't leave Beth behind, and she would need pretty fast moves to get Beth out of Sam's arms right now. She'd read the texts from Kurt. Sam was having a ball taking care of Beth tonight. He'd even managed to witness her rolling over, something Mercedes had yet to experience. She knew Beth could do it, because lately she had been finding the baby sleeping on her belly, even though she always put her down on her back in the crib. Beth must have been turning over in her sleep and not even realizing it. Lucky Sam had been the one to witness that milestone firsthand. Kurt had promised video, but so far nothing, maybe Beth wasn't up for a repeat performance.

"Of course I do," said Finn sitting next to her again on the stairs, his long legs stretched out on two steps below them. "Got to at least hear the Oh Mandees play after all we went through to get them here tonight."

"Did I ever thank you for that? You really have been going beyond for me lately."

If it weren't for him Mercedes wasn't sure if they'd even have a band for tonight, they'd be stuck with Kurt's friend Elliot and his party playlist on his Ipod. Waving Sam's money around had been getting her nowhere with the band, apparently they were above commercialism and greed. And here Mercedes thought that artists actually didn't want to starve.

"Nope. Never thanked me properly. Promised me guacamole and I got jack."

"I forgot it in the fridge last night."

Puck had distracted her with all that talk about not giving up on Sam. It had felt like bizarro world in the kitchen with Puck actually being pro her and Sam. But if her own husband could forget her, then it wasn't totally unbelievable for Noah Puckerman to suddenly be rooting for her marriage. Now if her dad joined the cheering section, she would know she had been transported to another planet. Puck might get sentimental about her relationship with Sam, but Julian Jones never would. She doubted her father would ever approve of Sam again.

"You said that already. Whatcha gonna do about it now?" he asked leaning in closer to her face, with a stupid grin.

"Would you take a rain check?" she asked with a slight giggle. Finn being so close was making her a little fluttery for some reason.

"Sounds good. Maybe we can even watch a movie too. I had fun with you last night. You're not so bad Cede," said Finn quickly patting her knee.

"You say that like you're surprised," said Mercedes leaning away from him, so she could see his face fully.

"I am in a way. You've sort of been moping around campus for months. I figured you'd be a complete downer."

"Kind of hard to be the life of the party when my husband was critically ill," she said softly.

"I'm such a dumbass. I'm sorry I said that." He rubbed her bare shoulder gently before removing his hand. "I know you had a lot on your plate. I just meant it was nice to see you let your hair down, smiling and more relaxed. It suits you."

Mercedes threw him a smile. "You weren't so bad yourself. And all that fast talking to get the band to play the party. Pretty smooth there frat boy."

"What can I say? My mom runs a bar and my stepfather is an attorney, I'm around fast talk all the time. Besides I couldn't let you leave disappointed. I know how important this party is to you," he said his voice growing softer as he leaned into her side, bumping her shoulder with his own.

He smelled spicy like aftershave and a hint of something sweet, maybe it was the gel that held back his dark hair. Mercedes felt the urge to reach up and tussle that hair, mess it up and pull it back toward his face, like he normally wore it. Finn was too much of a free spirit to have hair that contained. Instead she smiled up at him, studying how his brown eyes were flecked with gold. Finn had such kind eyes, she'd never noticed it before.

"Sugar was a fool to dump you." She blurted it out without thinking. The thought had just come to her as they sat together on the quiet staircase. The sounds of the party seemed muted in the distance.

Finn laughed as he straightened up, putting some space between them. "I couldn't agree more. I'm sure she's kicking herself all over Spain for walking away from a catch like me."

He smiled widely, but his eyes betrayed a hint of sadness. Maybe she shouldn't have brought up Sugar.

"I'm sure. It's not every day a girl finds a man with such a swelled head," she said teasing him, hoping to keep things light. It had been nice and uncomplicated between them up until now.

"It protects my big brain. Gotta keep it safe and sound up there."

"Lots of air and cotton right?"

"Just for that I demand guacamole and margaritas."

"That works for me. I'm going to need to be drunk to hang out with you again."

"I'm surprised you're not drunk all the time having to deal with that jerk off husband of yours. Is he always such an ass?"

Mercedes cringed at Finn's harsh assessment. So much for nice and uncomplicated. All her issues with Sam came flooding back, sucking the air out of the room.

"I think he just reacted to the whole stranger in his house thing."

"C'mon Cede. He knew who I was. And what about him on the phone with you last night? I could tell he pissed you off."

"He just didn't like I was out with you." She got up from her perch on the steps, smoothing out her green dress and peered down the hallway, hoping to find a quick escape from the conversation.

"Didn't you tell me he was pining for his ex?"

"I don't think I used the word pining," she mumbled, unable to look him in the eyes. It was embarrassing how much everyone seemed to know about her husband's feelings for another woman.

"Whatever. I know you said he was trying to get back with Quinn Fabray, trying to kick you to the curb, so what right does he have to say anything about how you spend your time?" asked Finn sounding pretty indignant about the subject, as if he were the one that Sam was hurting.

So blunt yet so true. Mercedes really had no words to contradict any of it.

"I'm still married," she offered feebly.

"So is he. He needs to remember that next time he starts drooling all over his baby mama," he said reaching out his hand. Mercedes grabbed hold of it and let him pull her back to sit on the steps next to him.

"Quinn is locked upstate, so that won't be an issue for him. She's not around." The only thing in her favor was that she was near Sam and Quinn wasn't. If Quinn were back in Lima, Mercedes wouldn't stand a chance at keeping Sam in her life.

"Okay, but that still doesn't give him the right to be rude."

"At least rude is a reaction. Jealousy is an emotion. If it weren't for that he'd probably have nothing to say to me at all." A sob caught in her throat at that thought. This time last year, Sam had wanted to spend every minute with her and he talked to her constantly, sometimes his rambles rivaled her own.

"Oh I get it now. You're trying to get a rise out of him. Provoke him into feeling something."

"I didn't say that," she said defensively.

The idea of that seemed so calculating and she wasn't like that anymore. She was a better person now. It had been a little test, just to see if she mattered at all to him. So yeah she had let him think that there could possibly be another man in her life, but she wasn't trying to make him jealous. She just wanted to see if he felt anything at all, if that spark was still there between them.

"You didn't have to. I got a pretty good read on how you think. So I take it I'm the bait?"

"I may have let him think that there could possibly be a little something going on between us," Mercedes admitted.

"I deserve a full Mexican dinner for this. You know he will try to pummel my ass over you."

"I doubt it. He doesn't care that much." No way would Sam come to blows over her, maybe before the accident, but not now.

Sure he reacted a little bit, got possessive when she didn't deny sleeping with Finn, but none of that stopped him from still thinking about Quinn. He'd been in their home, in their bedroom, he'd even tried to kiss her, and still Mercedes could tell his mind was on Quinn.

"He's a man, with a hot wife, he cares."

Finn obviously hadn't looked at Quinn. Next to her Mercedes was practically an eye sore.

"Doubtful. He thinks you and I are out at a party together right now, and he didn't say a word."

After everything she had said to him earlier today, putting her heart on the line, he didn't even react to her supposed date with Finn. So much for all he said about wanting to be loved and it feeling right to be wearing his wedding band. Just words, for what cause, Mercedes had no clue.

"What? You used me as your cover story and didn't tell me?" Finn ran his hand through his hair, messing it up, finally freeing it from its plastered prison. It looked better.

"I didn't think it mattered, once the party starts he'd know I made the whole thing up anyway."

"Oh you clueless girl. You don't understand the male mind at all do you?"

Mercedes crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "I think I have a good handle on men and their little heads."

Finn stood up and paced in front of her, hands behinds his back. "Let me school you a minute. Sam will come downstairs and get his surprise, realize you planned him a party and all, but that won't make him forget the rest."

"The rest?"

"Yeah that you were out with me last night and apparently out with me again tonight."

"But we aren't out, we're here. It was a ruse. He's smart enough to get that."

"He's also smart enough to know that men don't let themselves be used in ruses unless they're getting something in return."

"Yeah guacamole," she said slowly, not getting where Finn was going with his little lesson.

"You think Sam's mind is going to Mexican food? He's going to be thinking of other sorts of payment. Trust me, I know."

Finn did have a point. Sam did tend to think the worse. Part of why Beth was conceived was because Sam had assumed that kiss with Shane Tinsley meant more than it did.

"I did sort of let him think you were over the house today and he just made this huge leap that something physical was going on between you and me."

"What'd I tell ya? Men go straight to the gutter. Do I need to protect myself?" he asked lowering his voice. "An Evans now thinks his wife is sleeping with another man. Burt works for D&E sometimes I know how the Evans family operates."

"How many times do I have to tell you he doesn't care?"

"You don't believe that. You wouldn't be here throwing him this big party if you thought he didn't care just a little." Mercedes looked down, unable to dispute Finn's words. "So now that my ass is grass. We need to take this little charade all the way."

"What's that mean?"

"I mean we need to keep fueling his jealousy. Keep him feeling threatened by me."

"Finn, I'm not bringing a date to my husband's birthday party."

Even at her most desperate she'd never stoop that low, to embarrass him in front of his family and friends, not to mention the media, especially not after what happened last year with Shane. She may be hurting about his renewed feelings for Quinn but she couldn't subject him to public humiliation because of it.

"I don't have to be your date. I just have to look interested, a little flirty even. That should do the trick."

"I really don't want to play games with him. If he doesn't want to be with me anymore, I need to accept that." It was what she had been trying to do for days now, except no one seemed to want her to. Not Kurt, not Puck, and oddest of all, even Sam seemed determined to keep her holding onto a crumbling relationship.

"Please please, please, cut the crap. You women are all alike. You don't want to let your man go, you don't want to bow out gracefully. You want to claw the other woman's eyes out and feed them to the cat."

"Graphic. Bitter much?"

"I just know how ruthless women can be, and you can sit here all demure and perfect little wife all you want, but I know deep down you're no different. You freaking married an Evans, you gotta like it down and dirty to be a part of this family."

"Okay on that note. It's almost time for Sam to come downstairs. We better head into the living room."

"Not so fast cutie," he said placing his hands on her bare shoulders, keeping her from getting off the stairs. "We've got to work out our plan for the night."

"I just told you no Finn," said Mercedes, covering her face with her hand. He really needed to let all of this go.

"You didn't mean that though. So here it goes. I will go out of my way to compliment you in front of him and show you attention. And maybe later we can even get out on the floor and dance that would really cut his cheese." A devilish smile spread on his face.

"You are enjoying this way too much."

Finn walked away from her to stand in the middle of the floor, hands deep in his pockets, his dark hair back to its usual unruly state.

"The dude rubbed me the wrong way, and my first instinct is to truly not give a shit about him, but he's your guy, and you want him, so I'm going to help you make that happen."

"Finn, why are you even doing this? We're not close, we barely hung out before this." They had never even spoken to each other without Kurt present before a week ago. Now they had spent time together on three separate occasions. Strange indeed.

"Maybe I'm trying to spare the world another miserable broken heart. I wouldn't wish what I'm going through over Sugar on anyone."

"So you're Cupid?" she asked searching his face for some clue of what was really going on with him. Finn had to have better things to do with his time than involve himself with her pitiful love life. He had parties to throw, sorority sisters to do.

"A more manly, better dressed version of him," he said puffing his chest out proudly.

"Wow." Mercedes's cheeks warmed as she smiled at him. "I could almost hug you." He was being so good to her.

"Don't be a tease. Lay it on me," he said opening his long arms, beckoning her closer.

Mercedes stood up and slowly walked over to him. "Thank you for caring enough to do this," she said as she leaned up and wrapped her arms around his torso. Even in her heels she only reached his chest.

"This is what makes it worthwhile, finally getting my hands on a girl that doesn't smell like stale beer and Victoria Secret perfume." He gave her a tight squeeze before letting her go.

"Aww Finn," she said her hand on his chest, and laughter in voice. "You sure know how to charm a girl."

"The party hasn't started yet and you're already making moves on another man."

Mercedes stepped away from Finn, her face twisting in disgust. "Rachel. What are you doing here?" Great Rachel Berry, the last person she wanted to see. Well next to last, Quinn definitely trumped Rachel on her list of people she could do without.

Rachel smirked, not bothering to look up as she responded, her focus on her phone.

"One, I was invited. Two, I brought Sam's favorite burgers from the diner, and three looks like I arrived just in time to save Sam from another round of hell with you. Where's he at? Got a photo right here that I bet he'd just love to see."

Finally looking up, flashing her fake plastic Miss America smile as she held up her phone for both to see. Captured on the small screen, in vivid color, Mercedes and Finn in an embrace.