Happy Holidays to all of you! Kesh and I wanted to have Poker, All I want for Christmas and Match done by tonight but unfortunately, even though we live far apart we came down with the same bug at almost the same time lol. We have been sick all week. But we didn't want to leave you with anything so we will post the finished chapters of this and Protect to tide you over. Enjoy!

Mercedes bit her bottom lip as she stepped out of Noah's truck, today was the big first game, and he asked her to ride over with him. It had been two weeks since the blow-up at Mal's place and since she realized that Sam had completely forgotten about what happened between them.

After talking to her brother, she realized he was right; she needed her own space. So she let Santana and Quinn set her up with a great condo in a gated community. It took two weeks and the help of her new friend Kurt Hummel for her to completely furnish her place, but it was really starting to feel like home.

Though she didn't need all three bedrooms and a basement, she put good use to them. Making one of the bedrooms her new closet because with her shopping first with Quinn and Santana and then again with Kurt, her wardrobe had grown a lot. Shoes included. So Kurt called his buddy Artie. They tore down the wall between her room and next door and expanded her bathroom into the walk-in closet to give her a bigger shower and a massive freestanding tub. All the electronic upgrades too, she even had a Keurig in there, but she used it for Hot cocoa.

Then they added rails, drawers, and a vanity turning the second bedroom into her dream closet. Once that was done, she used the third as a guest bedroom, and the basement was her laundry room, mini gym, and bar area.

Things with her and Malcolm were okay; he wasn't happy that she had been hanging out more and more with Noah. He may not have been Sam, but at least he remembered what happened the night before and wasn't ashamed of it. And that is how she found herself letting him plant a kiss on her before leading her to the side entrance.

"Am I gonna see you in the stands, or are you going to sit in the box?" He asked, pulling her close. She smiled, but before she could answer, someone cleared their throat.

Mercedes turned, and her heart sank as she was met with both Sam and Malcolm staring at her. She frowned; she had only seen Sam in passing; they hadn't really spoken since he said he didn't remember what happened between them and that he wouldn't be with her because of Malcolm.

Puck smiled widely. "Can I help you, bastards? I was just saying goodbye to my good luck charm."

Sam let out an annoyed breath before walking away, muttering under his breath while Malcolm looked disgusted.

"One, stop calling her that, and two, I need to talk to Mercedes, alone," Malcolm said, grabbing her arm and pulling her away from him.

"I'll be waiting for you after the game, baby." Puck yelled and caught up with Sam. "What's your problem, Evans? Still pissed that I get to enjoy all of her curvy goodness?"

Sam stopped and grabbed Puck by the collar before pushing against the wall. "Stop fucking talking about her like she's a toy. Focus on your own shit and the game." He said before dropping him down then walking into the locker room.

"Damn, you need to get laid…bad!" He yelled after him.

Mercedes looked at Malcolm and smiled. "So, what's up?"

"You have to sing the National Anthem, and we don't have time to discuss it… GUY'S SHE'S HERE!" Malcolm said before shouting to someone, and then a group of people showed up grabbing at Mercedes.

"Mal… what the hell?"

"You got this! Love you, sis, I have to go get ready!" Malcolm said before running to the locker room to do just that.

Mercedes watched him run away and turned to Santana and Quinn, who smiled at her holding up a Jersey and a makeup kit.

"Merce, we have ten minutes to get you camera-ready; we figured you wouldn't want a dress, so we got you an actual Jersey…it has to go back; they can't know we stole it," Santana said, pulling her into an abandoned room.

"I can't… I can't do this!" Mercedes said, freaking out.

"You can and you will; it's easy just find someone in the crowd to focus on then sing!" Quinn encouraged pulling her shirt off and putting the jersey on her.

"Pull your hair down and shake it," Kurt said, looking at his watch. "It's a good thing you have on a tank top because we're gonna have to take the jersey off and give it whoever it belongs to once you're done."

Mercedes looked down at the jersey and shook her head. "This isn't Mal's number!" She said, "This is six! Mal is sixteen!"

Quinn shrugged. "Just wear it; we gotta go."

"But Puck's number is twenty-eight, and Sam's-" She started before they pushed her out onto the field right as she was being announced.

"Holy shit…" She said, looking around and slowly walking out to where she was being waved over to, there were so many people there, and she could see the team's coming out to line the field.

"Dude, hurry up; you're the QB; you have to be on the field when the national anthem is performed!" Mike shouted to Sam before running up to catch up with the rest of the team.

Sam kept looking through his bags and even tried to find his backup jersey, but it wasn't there either. He knew he'd be fined if he missed the anthem, so he just said fuck it and ran onto the field angry because he was convinced Puck was fucking with him.

"I can't find my damn jersey!" Sam muttered to Anthony, who chuckled.

"Well, you might want to look on the field," Anthony said, placing his hand over his heart. Sam looked in the direction he pointed before seeing Mercedes standing in his jersey, looking nervous.

"Damn…" He mumbled to himself; as nervous as she looked, she filled his jersey out so well…he wondered what it would look like with her wearing it and nothing else.

Mercedes took a deep breath and waited for the music to begin trying to find a way to calm her nerves before taking Quinn's advice and looking at the sea of faces hoping one of them would help. She looked at her brother, who was too busy yapping to one of his teammates to see her panic before scanning until she found Puck's who looked beyond pissed and finally landing on Sam's face.

Sam's gaze met hers, and he knew she needed encouragement, so he gave her a smile that most would consider his lopsided grin, and nodded for her to sing, then pointed to his heart, telling her to sing from there with his eyes.

Mercedes smiled at Sam and nodded and then held the mic closer, singing the National Anthem to near perfection; her nerves were still there after all. Taking a bow, she quickly hurried off to the side as Sam met her.

"I think this belongs to you." She said, pulling the jersey off and handing it to Sam.

Sam smiled at her before pulling her into a tight hug. "You did great!" He whispered. "I see why he calls you his good luck charm."

Mercedes blushed as he held her and smiled, hugging him back. "Thanks, I didn't have time to practice…I hope others feel the same way as you do." She reached up and kissed his cheek. "Have a good game Sam."

Sam wanted to turn his head so he could kiss her on the lips, but she was Puck's girl, so he just accepted what he was given. "Thanks, I'll make it good for you." He said, letting her go and taking a step back before realizing everyone was looking at them. "Oh shit."

Mercedes saw everyone looking, including Puck, before her phone went off, a familiar ping that made her stiffen and quickly walk off the field.

That was cute. So you left me to what? Embarrass yourself on national television?

-J

Mercedes frowned, taking a breath. Jesse always knew how to crush her, didn't he? She hit end, not wanting to talk to him, not giving him satisfaction.

Walking back to where Quinn and Kurt were, Mercedes narrowed her eyes at him. "I can't believe you just did that to me…."

Kurt hugged her. "You were amazing! And it seemed Sam Evans felt that way too…he couldn't take his eyes off of you."

She blushed, looking away. "All Sam and I will ever be are friends, plus I am kinda seeing Noah."

Kurt laughed. "You may be seeing Puck, but Sam is definitely seeing you…"

Santana moved closer to them and looked at Mercedes. "Something happened with you and Sam…probably you and Puck too."

As the game started, Mercedes turned towards her three new friends and needed to talk about it. She sighed. "Well, let's see. The night of the party, Sam kissed me…but he was so scared of Mal that he freaked. So I had Noah take me home. And in the midst of him taking me home, we ended up in my bed…naked. And I kid you not, as Noah was kissing his way down my body, about to prove that he really does have a magic tongue, Sam bursts into my room and throws Noah out on his ass."

All three stared at her mouth gaping open. Santana was first to speak. "Are you telling me Sam busted in that room and kicked Puck's naked ass?"

They busted out laughing, and Mercedes shook her head with a smirk. "That's not even the last of it…I had decided to take a shower, and well, I was sexually frustrated, so I started to…anyway, Sam comes in, and he looks at me while I…." She blushed. "Anyways, we get to my bed, and we don't have sex, but we get each other off… I cuddle with him, and we sleep. Then I find out that not only does he not remember what happened…he told Mal in front of me that nothing would ever happen between us."

Quinn looked at her for a moment before shaking her head. "Sam Evans forgot? Samuel Dwight Evans? Tall big lipped blonde that literally remembers the minute he met all of us… forgot?" Quinn questioned.

"No, wait, Q's right. Sam never forgets anything, and if he does, it never lasts… like that night we all got blackout drunk, and we couldn't remember a damn thing then here comes Evans recounting every embarrassing detail.`` Santa said.

She sighed. "No, he forgot, and even if he remembers, he doesn't want me. And I like Noah even if he is a bit of a freak."

Kurt sighed. "Well, there's only one way to find out if he wants you or not… your housewarming party."

Mercedes shook her head. "I am kinda seeing Noah. I can't go and try to hook up with Sam."

Santana laughed. "Have you let Puck hit?"

Mercedes looked away from them. "It hasn't been the right time."

"Ha! Right time? Have you met Noah Puckerman? Every minute of every day is the right time for him." Quinn said, shaking her head.

"Ever since things happened with Sam, I just can't go far with Noah before I end up picturing Sam; it feels wrong. So I am waiting until Sam is a non-factor, and since I have moved out into my own place, it should be soon."

Kurt snickered. "Yeah, that's not happening."

Mercedes looked at him. "And how do you know?"

Quinn smirked, shaking her head at him.

Mercedes glanced at all of them. "Ummm, am I missing something?"

"Yeah, the game," Santana said, grabbing her arm and walking her to her seat.

Kurt leaned into Quinn. "You really aren't gonna tell her?"

"Hell no, plus he doesn't know either, so why not see how this plays out?"

"And when she finds out… who do you think she is gonna kill first?" He said, smiling.

"If we're lucky, Sam's dick… dude needs to get laid, and so does she!" Quinn replied, giggling.

Jesse St. James stared at the TV in shock. He was flipping through the channels, minding his business, and he saw Mercedes, his Mercedes singing the National Anthem. And damn it if she didn't look beautiful up there sounding like an angel.

When she left him, he didn't even bother going after her; she couldn't get far. He has assumed she went to her brother's, she always ran to him, but when he realized that she didn't belong, she would return to him. Except it had been almost two months, and she was not back, and now she was on camera singing while wearing that bastard Sam Evans jersey. And the way he was looking at her, who the hell did he think he was.

Hmm… you left me for that? Really, Jesse, you've had better, but I must say she did a pretty good job. Good luck keeping her hidden now!

-RB

Jesse stared at the text from his former flame and grew even more annoyed. Mercedes had no right to leave him the way she did, and she damn sure shouldn't have been performing without him signing off for it. He slammed his phone down before grabbing his laptop and booking the first flight from Vegas to Maine. Lucky for him, he had plenty of her bastard brother's money to keep him comfortable, but he had to get her back, so his money train didn't stop.

Two hours later, he sat in his best friend Will's car on the way to the Airport.

"I still can't believe this shit. She had no right to betray me like this. Slutting it up with football players? I thought she was better than that!"

Will looked at him, then back at the road. He himself was pissed for a whole other reason. While Jesse liked the fact that he could control Mercedes, Will liked the fact that he could get close to her without him noticing. He had a thing for Mercedes from the moment Jesse introduced them.

He still remembered what she was wearing, a pair of dark wash jeans that hugged her hips and ass perfectly and a black and gray off-shoulder sweater. Her hair was in a messy bun, and she was wearing a pair of glasses that Jesse made sure she knew he hated, but Will loved seeing her like that. She was perfect.

"So what's your play? You gonna go get her and bring her back here, and then what? She's just gonna leave again, a woman like that… she won't do what you want." Will said, hoping Jesse took the bait. His best friend didn't like being told what to do, and he needed to be absolutely sure that Jesse was bringing Mercedes back.

"She's my fiancé; I'll just use my powers of persuasion on her. She could never resist when I put it on her." Jesse answered smugly.

Will gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white. "Maybe you should try talking to her; you shouldn't try to use sex to get her back," Will suggested tightly.

"She's a sexual and sensual person; she responds better when she's being fucked." He replied, toying with the large engagement ring he'd given her months prior; she left it on the kitchen counter with a damn note saying she wasn't coming back. Of course, he didn't believe her because she always came back.

Will swallowed. "Yeah, well, if that's the case and you think she's fuckin that football player, maybe he is why she isn't returning, and he's putting it on her better." He said he hated that thought too, but at least this time, they were both pissed.

Jesse chuckled and shook his head. "Trust me, if they were fucking he wouldn't have played in the game after she sung. I know her, and she's hard to turn down when she's in the mood."

Will pulled up at the departure lane and stopped the car. "The way those two looked, trust me, if she ain't fuck him yet, she will tonight. They won too, so you know he gonna come and collect that sweet ass of hers."

Jesse looked over at Will with his eyes narrowed. "She's not fucking him, and when she sees I'm there, she won't be focusing on anyone but me!"

Will shrugged his shoulders and opened the trunk. "Good to know you have a solid plan, but you're forgetting one thing."

Jesse gripped the door handle. "Yeah, and what's that?"

"Malcolm Jones," Will answered.

"You think I am scared of her bastard brother? Please, Malcolm isn't a factor." Jesse said, opening his door.

"Then why keep her away from him? Why hide the fact that he sends her twenty thousand a month? You don't really think she believes you're making that much, right? You've been living off of her since you started dating. He's going know, and when he finds out what you did, you're fucked."

"Please, she's not gonna talk money with him, and as soon as I get there and get her ass back here, everything will be better.

"If you say so."

"I do; thanks for the ride," Jesse said, slamming the truck close and walking into the Airport.

Will watched him before punching the dash. "Damn bitch, he doesn't deserve her. She should be with me!"

Mercedes was working with Kurt on her house warming party. They had just finished talking to the caterers, and his friend Hunter was headed over later with his husband Sebastian to rearrange everything for the party.

She sighed, running her hands through her hair. "I need a shower and a nap before the party tonight, but the outfit I picked out is all kinds of sinful. Sam won't know what hit him."

Kurt raised an eyebrow. "Sam? Thought he wasn't invited?"

She turned to him. "Noah! I meant Noah. Shouldn't you be getting home and getting dressed anyways? You gotta come back to help me figure it all out."

Kurt smiled as his phone rang. Telling Hunter to hold on, he got a brilliant and devious idea. "You know what? I have to take this call, and I have to get changed. Can you drop these…" He reached into his bag and grabbed a manilla folder. "Off to your neighbor, I really need to take this call and head out and it's a good way for you to meet your neighbors; you might hit it off."

"Umm, sure, but I'm not trying to hit it off with anyone, Kurt. I'm with Noah." She said, taking the folder. "Besides, why would I want to date my neighbor? There would be no way to ditch him if things go wrong." She added with a giggle.

"Well, if nothing else, he I; hee candy and likes to run shirtless on the beach. Take it around back and knock on his patio door, he is expecting them."

"Sure thing." She said, walking out with him.

She ran her hand through her hair; she was currently wearing a turquoise and yellow sundress that clung to her curves dangerously, as Noah told her as she pushed him out of her house earlier. Under the dress, she wasn't wearing anything because it was her house and she could. Slipping on her comfy turquoise sandals, she headed out the back of her place and towards her new neighbors. She would drop the folder off and leave quickly so she could get ready.

As she made her way around back, she heard water running and was a bit confused until she made her way halfway up the stairs to her neighbor's deck. She realized a man was taking a shower outside on the deck. Her eyes traveled slowly up his calf, stopping to notice he had a grizzly growling bear on it. The thing looked accurate from where she stood. Her gaze moved up to his nice muscular thighs. Her eyes widened when she realized he wasn't wearing anything at all.

But his ass was so amazing. Tight and firm, and when he slightly turned, she saw a long thick shaft that made her literally gulp. Her eyes moved the rest of the way up, stopping to notice the tribal tattoo on his back shoulder blade. She froze for a moment because Mal had one. The team got them when they won the Superbowl last year.

"Mercedes?"

She couldn't move, she knew that voice, but there was no way he was her neighbor. Looking up slowly, she found those sexy green orbs staring back at her, and she damn near lost it.

"Um, Kurt wanted me to drop these off since apparently we are neighbors." She said softly.

Sam smirked as he turned so that his body was facing her fully. "Mercedes, what are you doing here?" He asked, biting his lip as he looked her over.

She didn't even hide the lust in her eyes, as she let her gaze roam everywhere because the man was not hiding a damn thing.

Sam ran his hand down his body before grabbing his semi-hard dick and giving it a light tug. "Wanna join me?" He asked.

She couldn't even speak, her throat was dry, and even though she should have turned away from him., making her way back to her place, her traitorous feet moved her up towards Sam.

Sam continued to stroke himself as he watched her slowly walk up the stairs. He didn't even know she moved this far out but lucky for him, he could have her to himself now.

"Take your dress off and join me." He instructed when she stopped directly in front of him.

She had dropped the folder and swallowed again, she hated when Jesse was demanding, but with Sam, all she could do was nod. Removing her dress, she dropped it to the ground.

Sam looked her over and groaned, seeing that she was naked underneath her dress. "Come here." He said, moving back under the warm water.

Mercedes moved closer to him, it was like she was mesmerized by him, even if her mind wanted to leave, which it did, but her body betrayed her by listening again and slipping under the water; she needed a shower anyway.

"Mmm… good girl. Tell me what you want." He said, reaching for her hand and placing it on his dick.

"You…" Came out without her thinking, she squeezed gently, staring at him.

"You want me to do what, baby?" He asked, hissing when she squeezed him.

"I want you to take me, Sam; I want all of you; I need you." She said, standing on her tippy toes and kissing him.

Sam smirked and kissed her back before picking her up. "Hold on, and be sure this is what you really want because I'm not stopping once I start."