So with all the amazing reviews! I thought I would give your guys another Chapter. I am so glad you love it already! Stay Blessed! Stay Up! And Stay Healthy.

Enjoy!

Sam Evans smiled for the hundredth time as he posed for his Holiday ad. He barely had time to do anything between his shoe deal, commercials, and the actual game.

"That's right, Sam; look into the camera and smolder." Brandon, the photographer, said, and he frowned before doing what was asked of him. "Now pull Penny close and let her swoon all over you."

Sam forced a smile as he finished working. Once the shoot wrapped, he grabbed his shirt sitting next to his best friend and manager, Mike. "Tell me again why I agreed to do this?"

Mike shrugged. "Because they offered you half a million, and I get twenty percent of that."

Sam rolled his eyes as Penny moved between his legs, kissing him. "You were great, baby. I told you we would rock this shoot. Am I coming over tonight?"

Sam sighed. "Actually, no. I am driving down to Lima with Mike to visit my Family for the Holidays. So I will see you in the New Year, baby."

Penny frowned. "You sure you don't want to join me in Cancun, and we can skinny dip and plan our wedding…."

Sam rolled his eyes. "Don't remember asking you to marry me, Penny."

"Please, we have been together for three years."

"On and Off," Mike added.

"Whatever, I am, the longest relationship he's had, even with us being more off than on."

Sam sighed; Penny was right; she was his longest relationship since joining the NFL, though they spent their time together either working or fighting. Because she wanted more than he wanted to give. Sam swore off commitments ever since leaving Mercedes. It never felt right to be with someone when he couldn't be with the woman he loved.

His grandfather thought sending Sam away would make him forget Mercedes, and for a while, it did; he finished school in Nashville with his parents, and he figured he would tell them about the baby and things would be great, but then he learned his father was sick, and Sam had to step up and realized just how hard it all was. After a while, it was easier to just pretend it had never happened. But Karma came back when he was drafted by the Bengals. He thought that was a sign that he should be with Mercedes, so the moment he touched down in Cleveland, he went to Mercedes's house, hoping to get a glimpse of her and his daughter.

But he learned it was too late; after threatening to kick his ass, Mercedes's brother informed Sam that she moved down south to live with their grandmother and raise the baby, and it was in his best interest to leave them alone. And after thinking about it, he realized that Miles was right; it had been four years, and Mercedes and their child deserved to live peacefully.

Through the years, he thought about trying to find her, but then he realized he didn't know what he would say or if she would forgive him. He didn't even know what his daughter looked like because Mercedes kept her social media pages private.

It wasn't until his grandfather passed this past summer did Sam learn the truth.

Six Months Ago

Sam made his way into the house, walking straight up to his grandfather's room. Sam rushed to his side when he got the call that his grandfather was dying. He was still plenty angry at him, but in the end, Sam went along with everything, so he was more to blame.

Walking into the room, he rushed to his grandmother's side.

"Oh, Sammy, look at you! All grown up, I am so glad you came…I thought…"

"You thought because he did what he did, I wouldn't come? I'm not like him, grandma. I am not a monster who hates."

"Sammy?" Came a frail voice, and Sam looked at the man who had taken the love of his life away.

"Grandfather."

"There was a time you called me Pawpaw." He said weakly.

"That was when I respected you." Sam said. "Look, I didn't come here to fight. I just… I couldn't not see you. No matter what you've done."

"Sammy… I'm sorry. I never…" He started coughing, and Sam handed him a drink as he continued. "I never meant to hurt you, and I thought she would ruin you. But I did instead."

"I did everything you dreamed. I left the love of my life and was drafted into the NFL. I have an eight-year-old daughter who doesn't know me, but I am famous. I have a daughter I have never seen; I wouldn't even know her if she walked in here. But I am a rich."

George pointed a shaky finger to the bedside drawer. "Look…" He said, and Sam raised an eyebrow looking where he pointed; as Sam opened the drawer, he noticed unopened cards addressed to Sam.

"What…" He stopped speaking as he recognized the handwriting, then the return addresses. Some from South Carolina and some from Ohio. "What did you do?" Sam said through grated teeth.

"Protect…protect…"

His grandfather tried to get out, but Sam stood furious. "You were trying to protect yourself! I can't believe you did this!"

Dwight ran into the room, hearing Sam upset. "Samuel, stop yelling; you are upsetting your grandfather."

"Tell him what you did!" Sam yelled at him. "Tell my father, your son, how you pushed Mercedes away because she was pregnant and Black. How you guilted me at 17 to not tell my dad, who was in the hospital because he was sick, that I got her pregnant. How you spent the last 8 years keeping these cards a secret!"

Dwight looked from his father to Sam and shook his head. "What is happening?"

Pauline sighed. "Sam didn't just return home to help you, son, Sam, and his girlfriend at the time."

"Mercedes," Dwight said.

"Yes." Pauline agreed. "They got pregnant, and when your father found out, he lost it. Forbid me to speak of it and bullied Sam into breaking that poor girl's heart." Pauline looked at Sam. "I didn't know she sent those letters, Sam. I didn't know."

Dwight looked at his father. "You kept this secret from me; you had my son lie to me about my grandchild; why? Because she was black?"

"I need to get out of here." Sam said, running out of the room. Dwight looked at his father. "Why?"

"She wasn't good….enough." He coughed out.

"He loved her; that made her good enough."

Dwight walked out of his room and found Sam sitting on the sofa reading a letter.

"Dear Sam, I don't know why I am writing you, you made it clear you wanted nothing to do with us, but I thought I should tell you that I decided to keep our daughter. She was born on Valentine's Day. Makes sense that she would be delivered on the day representing love, considering she was made from love. Anyways I named her Malaya Samantha Jones. Because even though you want nothing to do with her, she's a part of you. It's more than you deserve, but I did it for her, not you. Here's a photo.

Mercedes."

Sam wiped his eyes, looking at a photo of his daughter in Mercedes's arms. He could tell Mercedes was tired, but she was grinning from ear to ear. He grabbed the next card that was sent a year later.

"Sam, I can not believe it's been a year. A whole year with your daughter, and you didn't reach out once. A part of me hoped. Shame on me, right. Laya is doing fantastic, growing so fast, and is so intelligent and quick, even at one. She gets that from me. But I noticed she is so goofy and brilliant; I have you to thank for that. She's already walking and can say, momma. You'd love her if you ever met her. I know you would.

Mercedes."

In that envelope was a photo of Malaya walking and Mercedes reaching out for her. Then there was one of Malaya sitting in a high chair with a beautiful small cake that had a one on it, and she had dug into it, grinning with cake smeared all over her face. Sam smiled through his tears as he reached for the third one.

"She's two now, talking up a storm and walking everywhere her little legs would take her. I love her so much. She's everything to me, Sam, and you gave her to me, so I can't hate you, no matter how much I want to hate you."

She didn't sign her name; she just added more photos of a growing Malaya. As Sam went through the photos and letters, he noticed Mercedes had stopped writing more than a sentence. He picked up the last letter that was sent in March of 2022 and opened it.

"Sam, I wonder if you are getting these. I hope, but who knows? Our daughter is a beautiful eight-year-old. And it breaks my heart to look at her, see you, and not have you here. She has your eyes, smile, love of everything Marvel, and positive outlook on life. It's fitting that I don't have you, but I have your twin. She wrote a beautiful paragraph on Family that was featured in the school newsletter. You should be proud."

Sam looked at the photos. The first was of Malaya and Mercedes dressed up as Black Widow (Mercedes) and Ms. Marvel (Malaya) for Halloween. Then Mercedes dressed as Mrs. Clause, and Malaya dressed as an adorable Elf. They were in the children's wing of a hospital handing out gifts. Then Malaya and Mercedes for her birthday, and it was Ms. Marvel-themed.

The last item was the paper. "My name is Malaya Jones, and I am eight years old. My mom is what I think of when I think of Family, and she's a superhero." Sam laughed as he continued. "I don't know my dad, but he might be one too. My mom taught me that love is always growing. Like her love for me. And that we need to share that love with the world. So we can all be Family."

Sam and his father sat silently for a long moment before Mary walked into the room; by the look on her face, Pauline had told her everything. She walked over to Sam and picked up the photos. Taking a breath, she looked at her husband, who was at a loss for words and looked at Sam. "She's so beautiful."

Sam looked at his mom. "She is. Mercedes said she looks like me, but all I see is her mom in her… I've missed so much."

Mary nodded. "I know."

"You could have told us, son; we would have understood," Dwight said softly.

"You were in the hospital after having a heart attack. How could I tell you I got her pregnant? That I was planning on leaving school and getting my GED to be with her? I had to step up for the Family, but I lost them in the process."

Mary moved to wrap her arms around Sam, hugging him tightly. "It's not too late, I know it seems that way, but Sam, if you want to know your daughter, you have a chance. Call her or go to one of these addresses; fight for your child."

Sam did as his mother suggested; the home in Ohio was her parent's home, and when Mariah saw him, she promptly kicked him to the curb while letting it slip Mercedes would be home for Christmas. He needed to see her; he needed to see his child. He knew he probably didn't deserve another chance, but he wanted one.

Sam felt like he blinked, and he was back in Lima, pulling into his hotel; he wasn't going to stay at his grandparent's with the rest of the Family; it felt like he could feel nothing but rage when he was there. Sitting on the bed, he pulled out the photos of Mercedes and Malaya, thinking about what it would be like if he hadn't left.

Regret played on his features, laying back on the bed and wondering if she was dating anyone. Mercedes was the whole package, so there had to be someone. A lucky bastard playing house with his Family. He may not have had the right to call them his, but they were. He wanted them, both of them, back.

His phone rang, and Sam shot up to answer it. "Hello?"

"Hey Sam, it's Artie. I saw you in my DM's, which was a surprise. What's up?"

Sam sighed; in a weak and drunk moment, Sam messaged a few of their friends from High School that he hadn't really stayed in touch with to see if they stayed in touch with Mercedes. The ones he was close to, Mike, Tina, Puck, and Dave, didn't keep up with her much. "Uh yeah, long time no see; how are you, man?"

"Confused..but good. I hear you are doing big things."

"Yeah, the game has been good to me. I know it's the Holidays and you are busy, and I'd like to know if you ever stayed in touch with Mercedes Jones.

"Why? Didn't ya'll break up when you learned she was pregnant?"

"Is that the story she is telling everyone?"

"No," Artie said shortly. "The story she told was that she had to get away from Lima, and then she left. But she leaves you out of her mouth, and I suggest you do the same with her."

CLICK

Sam looked at the phone to see he had hung up. Sighing, he shot Artie a text.

SE: I didn't mean to upset you; I just wanted to see if they were okay. If I should risk reaching out or just leave them alone?

AA: Why now? Why not eight years ago?

SE: I just found all the letters she sent. I didn't know she kept the baby or wanted me in their life. But if she's married, I will leave her alone.

AA: She's gonna kill me.

AA: She was engaged but broke it off last year. They are on their way here for Christmas; that's all you get. We are having a mini-reunion on Saturday with everyone. You didn't hear it from me.

SE: Thank you, Artie.

AA: Don't thank me, you screw with her, and we are sending Santana your way, and she will kick your ass.

Sam smiled as Artie gave him the address for where they were going on Saturday. He would show up, talk to Mercedes and take the first steps toward having some kind of relationship with them. Something he desperately needed.