Hi guys! Because I saw you loved the first Chapter, I decided to bless you twice. I am going to give you this Chapter and give you the first Chapter of two new Stories coming in the New Year! I may not be able to update the others fast but with You Again and Damaged Hearts coming to an End, I wanted to give you something to look forward too! Look for those soon!
Shout out again to Keshbeast for the editing and encouragement. Being sick, I was worried I was losing my touch, but according to her and you all, clearly not!
Also a shout-out to my amazing readers. I love you.
Sam Evans sighed, pushing the cart as Stevie ran up the aisle, grabbing the milk. "Will you hurry up? Some of us want to be out of this store so we can visit old haunts…old girls…." He said, letting his voice trail off.
"Look, we just have to finish this, then head to the Lima Bean to grab that hot chocolate mom loves, and then you can go off and find your loves."
As they continued down the dairy aisle, Sam felt his brother staring at him. "Go ahead and ask, man I know you all have been dying to know."
"I don't know what you are talking about."
Sam laughed. "You are not a good liar."
"Okay, fine! How the hell do you go eight years without telling us you got a kid out there!?"
"It all happened so fast. One minute I was planning my future with Mercedes and our kid, and then Grandfather convinced me I was making a mistake. He convinced me that I couldn't tell dad either; the man was having a heart attack, and I didn't want to make it worst. Soon after that, it was just easier to pretend. Until I found those letters."
"Yeah, mom said it was intense," Stevie added. "How are you not broken? How are you this put together?"
"I am broken; I missed so much, and Stevie, she's beautiful."
Stevie smiled. "Mercedes or the baby?"
Sam laughed, pulling out the photo he kept in his wallet of Mercedes and Malaya. "Both of them."
Stevie looked at the photo and shook his head. "You really are an idiot. I always found Mercedes beautiful. And if I had a woman like that, you best believe I would never have let her go."
"It's not like I planned on letting her go. You were too young to realize just how much of a racist our grandfather was. I thought I could reason with him, but I couldn't."
Stevie nodded. "You know, for what it's worth, I think you would have still made it to the NFL; Mercedes wouldn't have held you back."
"I know that! If I could go back, I would do this differently. But I can't, so I can only pray she will talk to me."
"How do you even know she is here?"
Sam shrugged. "Her sister told me back in June that she was coming back for Christmas, and then I was talking to an old friend, and he said they were meeting up Saturday, and she would be there."
"So what are you going to say to her. When you see her?" Stevie asked, putting a twelve-pack of black cherry Pepsi in the cart.
"I have no damn idea. She said in the letters she didn't hate me, but how could she not hate me? I left her and made her feel like we were nothing."
Stevie nodded. "But you also didn't know that she wanted to see you. I say that counts for something."
"Maybe to us, but not to her. If I was her and she left me with a baby, I don't know if I could forgive that."
Stevie walked out into the snack aisle and froze as a familiar face walked ahead of them. "Holy Shit."
"Oooo, do you kiss your mother with that mouth!" Sam teased.
"Sam…look," Stevie said, pointing ahead of them.
Sam froze next to his brother as Mercedes's familiar laugh took over. She was bent down wearing a bright red sweater, with a pair of hip-hugging blue jeans and a pair of thigh-high boots. Her hair was half up, half down in curls. She was talking to her mini-me, and they both were giggling about something before adding popcorn and cheese puffs into her cart.
"Sam, I may not believe in fate, but if I did, I would say fate wants you to talk to your family," Stevie said, nudging him, but Sam didn't move; he just watched them walking and laughing.
"You are being a creep, big brother staring at them like this."
"What am I…how am I supposed…"
"Come on, Lil Nugget! Mommom needs her cider!" Mercedes said, and her daughter followed her happily.
"Lil nugget…she calls her Lil nugget," Sam said in awe.
"It is cute," Stevie said. "Now go over there and introduce yourself to your daughter."
Sam frowned. "I can't…not like this…not now. I don't know what I was thinking…look at them."
"Sam, come on, you need to stop being so scared and say hi. This is what you wanted, and this is what you have been praying for."
"I know! But I can't do this! Come one, let's go before she sees us." Sam said, tugging his brother.
"You are such a coward! She's right there, man!"
"Let's go!"
Sam rushed to the checkout, not wanting to see Mercedes and not wanting her to see him.
Mercedes tossed a dress on her bed as she chose her options for tonight's get-together. Laya was with her grandparents, and for one night and one really painful morning, she would get to be a twenty-six-year-old and not just a mom.
"What do you think about this one?" Mercedes asked Santana and Mariah as she held up a long blue dress that left everything to the imagination.
"I think you need to get out of mom mode and get into sexy mode. Here, borrow this!" Mariah said, handing Mercedes a short halter top black dress.
"Umm, where the hell is the rest of it!" Mercedes asked.
"Just go in the bathroom and try it on!" Mariah said, pushing her into the bathroom.
Mariah looked at Santana and sighed. "Soo, I might know something."
Santana raised an eyebrow. "Bitch I might know something too!"
Mariah nodded. "About six months ago, Sam Evans came here looking for Mercedes, and I might have let it slip that she would be here…now."
Santana smiled. "He messaged Artie the other day and is coming tonight."
Mariah gasped Santana. "You could have led with that!"
"Why the hell do you think I am here trying to get her all sexy and show off those God-given curves. I want his ass to suffer for hurting her." Santana sneered.
"I look ridiculous," Mercedes said, tugging up the dress to cover her breast, but the dress rode up her thighs every time she did that.
"You look sexy as hell. I am about to kick your sister out and worship that damn body." Santana said, pulling Mercedes to her. "Just give me 30 minutes, and I can make all your dreams come true."
Mercedes giggled, shaking her head. "Still? After all these years, you are still trying to get me to go to the dark side."
"I would like to think it's more like coming over to the hot and sexy side."
Mercedes shook her head. "I want another dress."
Mariah handed her a gold off-the-shoulder dress. "Try this one."
Mercedes took the dress into the bathroom, and Santana looked at Mariah. "You know we made out once, right? It was for spin the bottle, but still."
Mariah rolled her eyes. "You are a mess; let's find her some shoes and jewelry to go with that dress."
"Are you coming with us tonight?"
"I was thinking about it, kinda wanna see what happens," Mariah said.
"Me too."
The High Note was a smooth jazz and R&B club that the gang loved because there was a stage set for every and anyone to get up and sing. Mercedes smoothed down her dress; the silky gold material clung to her like a second skin, and with her flawless hair and makeup, she actually felt like she was beautiful and that she fit in.
"Mercy me!" Squealed Kurt as he ran over to her hugging her tightly. "I swear it's like you haven't aged a day! Every time I see you, you look better and better. How is Malaya? How are things in Charleston? I wanna know everything."
"Let her breathe, Kurt!" Rachel said as she pulled Mercedes into a hug. "You look radiant! Tell me you are gonna get up on that stage?"
Mercedes shrugged. "Maybe after a few drinks. Where is Finn?"
"He is home with Fanny; his parents were running late; he said I could come early, and then he would join us!"
Mercedes sat down as a bartender brought a shot over to her. "Oh no, thank you, I didn't order that."
"I know; that gentleman at the bar did." He said, walking away.
Mercedes blushed and nodded thanks to the man as she looked back to her friends. "I am gonna take that as a sign that good things are coming tonight!"
Santana walked over to them with a tray full of shots. "Okay, listen up, tonight we are not parents or lawyers or whatever the hell job you have, and we are a group of friends about to have a great time!"
"Cheers to that!" Artie and Quinn said at that same time as everyone took a shot.
Sam nervously walked into the club as his long-time friends Puck, Tina, and Mike followed him. He wanted to talk to Mercedes, but he knew he needed support, so he talked to them and told them the truth about what had happened. And they agreed to come and help him. The truth was he knew most of them wanted to see at least one person from the Mercedes crew.
Mike smiled. "Let's head to the VIP area, Sam wants to keep a low profile, and he can't do that if all the ladies in here spot him. I am surprised he and Stevie weren't hounded earlier. I keep telling him he's famous now; he's being watched."
"You know he is hard-headed, come on, I want something to drink." Puck said.
"So I was dared to come up on stage. And if you are gonna make me sing, then I am singing a Christmas Song. So enjoy." A familiar voice said, and Sam looked at the stage, his heart stopping in his chest. Mercedes at the store was all mom mode, adorably so. But Mercedes was on the stage wearing a gold dress that clung to her body the way he used to; it stirred all his familiar feelings up.
"Damn, is that Mercedes? And she had a baby? Shit, Sam, you chose wrong; you chose very wrong." Puck said, moving towards the stage as Mike pulled Sam to the VIP area. As Mercedes began to sing 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.'
Sam's hand gripped the balcony rail as she sang so effortlessly. Mike stood next to him. "Sam, I know you want to know your daughter, but ambushing the woman you left might not be a good idea."
"Mike, do you think I am doing the right thing? Wanting to disrupt their lives? Be a dad?"
Mike sighed. "Sam, we have been best friends for years, and being your manager has made us closer. I know how hard leaving was, and you tried to convince yourself that everything was fine. But you have a choice; just be careful. Mercedes isn't just going to run into your arms. She's gonna be angry, and she's gonna be violent. Not to hurt you violently, but you will at least get slapped."
Sam nodded. "I just want to do right by them, and I have money; I can improve their lives."
"Please don't start with that! Don't go into this telling her you to want to make her life better!" Tina said, clearly eavesdropping. "She's been a mom by herself and did the best she could. And from what Artie told me, she's kicking ass at it. She owns her grandmother's restaurant and provides her daughter a stable and steady life. She is a great mom."
"So, talk to her like what?" Sam asked.
"Just tell her you are sorry and start from there."
Sam glanced at the stage where Mercedes, Santana, Kurt, and Quinn were singing 'Last Christmas'. "I think we should extend VIP to them and get them up here; that way, there isn't a scene on the main floor."
"That is an excellent Idea." Puck said. "Irene, beautiful, there is a group of our old friends we would like to invite up here. Do you think you can help us out with that?"
"Of course." The redhead said, smiling at Puck. "Just point them out."
Mercedes sat back, watching another group of friends get up and sing 'Holly Jolly Christmas' and beamed. "Looks like we started a trend tonight!"
"We always were trendsetters," Kurt said, striking a pose. He smiled, hugging her close.
I am so glad you are here, I wish you would move back here permanently, but I do understand you have a life in Charleston."
"I do. It's home now. But that doesn't mean I don't miss it here. I do. And I want Laya to know you guys; that's why I am here."
"Excuse me." A red-headed server said, looking at them. "Your group has been invited to the VIP area, and I was told to tell you it's time for a New Directions reunion?"
Mercedes looked up to the VIP section seeing Tina and Puck waving at them.
Artie looked at Santana and then at Mercedes. "Looks like the other half has come out to play. We should go say hi!"
Mercedes hesitated for a moment. "Ummm, if you all wanna go, we can check it out."
Santana looked at her. "Why are you so hesitant? It's been a while since we were all together."
"Where Tina and Mike are..." Mercedes started. "You know what, it's probably nothing. Let's go."
Everyone nodded in agreement, grabbing their bags as they walked up the stairs.
"Shouldn't we warn her?" Santana hissed. "I am not going down for this. I will throw you under the bus."
"I am not going down for this. Evans is the one who gotta answer for what he did. I just wanna experience VIP." he whispered back.
"Hey guys!" Tina said, rushing to hug everyone. Mercedes hugged her and smiled, moving to embrace Puck and Mike before stopping as brown eyes met green.
"Oh hell to the naw." She said, turning and walking towards the stairs. "If he is here, I am not staying!"
Sam ran after her, taking her hand, and she whipped her head around, emotions getting the better of her because she was unsure how she felt at that moment. Rage was at the forefront. "If you value your throwing arm, you will let me go. NOW!" She growled.
Sam hesitated before he let her go. "Please don't leave."
"I have nothing to say to you."
Sam nodded. "But I have some things I would like to say?"
"Then you should tell it to someone who cares. I can't be here."
Mercedes rushed down the stairs and out of the building, moving to her rental car. Sam followed after her as well as Santana and Mike.
"Please, I just wanted to…" Sam started, but Mercedes cut him off.
"What!" She asked angrily. "What did you want to do, Sam? Eight years of silence! Why the hell are you here now?"
"I just wanted to see you, see my daughter."
Slap
Sam's hand went to his face feeling the throbbing pain of her hand.
"Don't you ever fix your lips to call her that! You left me! You didn't want me; you didn't want her."
"Mercedes, I was seventeen. My grandfather was pulling the strings…my dad was sick, and I was confused."
"Confused? Okay, so maybe I could accept that for year one or two. But the rest? Sam, you are a grown man; you mean to tell me that you just now woke up? Just now decided to step up and be responsible?"
Mike moved closer to them as a small crowd gathered. "Can we maybe do this somewhere else?"
Mercedes looked around. "What? Don't want to ruin Sam's precious career by people knowing he's a deadbeat? Well, no worries, we are done here."
"Merced-"
"What, Sam? What is it you want from me?!"
Santana moved closer to her. "Merce, maybe we should go. I know I am normally for the drama, but I don't want you to end up a meme…."
Sam reached out for her. "Just, let's talk, okay, and then I will leave you alone if you want me to."
Mercedes snapped her head at him. "If I-" She paused, shaking her head. "I didn't want you to leave in the first place! That was your racist grandfather."
"I am not him." Sam said silently.
"Whispering? Really? What don't you want your fans to know that you, Sam Evans, beloved Quarterback for the Bengals, left his pregnant girlfriend all alone because his family wasn't okay with him having a biracial child!" She bitterly.
Hushed whispers could be heard around them as Sam looked at the cameras.
"Mercedes, you know that I am not like that. You know that my family isn't like that!"
"No, Sam, what I know is that I have been raising your daughter for eight damn years alone! I was the one who took her to the emergency room when she had a temperature of 103. I was the one who bathed her, wiped her tears, who did everything in my power to make sure she had an amazing life. NOT YOU! YOU WEREN'T THERE! YOU DIDN'T CARE ENOUGH TO BE THERE!"
"I DID CARE! I WAS WILLING TO GIVE IT ALL UP FOR YOU!" Sam shouted.
"BUT YOU DIDN'T! YOU DIDN'T EVEN SAY GOODBYE!" She looked at him with tears in her eyes. "You left me a damn note. And then you were gone. So now I am gone."
"Mercedes…"
"WE ARE DONE HERE!" Mercedes roared and got into her car, Santana following suit.
Mike pulled Sam back as he watched her pull off.
Mercedes stared straight ahead as Santana looked over at her. "You okay, Merce?"
"How could he do that to me?! How could he dare think I would want anything to do with him!"
"I don't know; what are you gonna do now?" Santana asked, and Mercedes shook her head, sighing because she didn't know.