I know I should space these out more, but I love reading your reviews! I love hearing your thoughts, and I LOVE MY COVER! Keshbeast made it, and what can't she do?! She also helped to edit as well.

Sam glanced at himself in the mirror as he looked at his mom. "And you are sure this is okay? She's gonna be there."

"For the millionth time, yes."

"Should I change? I feel like I am dressed for an interview."

Mary looked at Sam in a pair of dress slacks and a dress shirt. "That's because that is what you look like. Sam, just show up in a pair of jeans; it's not about what you wear; it's about talking, finally talking."

Sam nodded, going to his drawer. "So you spent time with my…with…."

"Malaya, yes, and she prefers Laya."

Sam turned towards her. "How was she? Was she happy?"

"Yes Sam. And beautiful. Mercedes was right; she is like you in so many ways. But Sam… don't be surprised if she isn't receptive to you immediately. It's not going to be easy on that poor girl, and I want this to go smoothly for all of you." Mary said.

Sam nodded. "I can understand that, and I just want a chance to know her."

"Sam, I know I don't have to tell you not to go in there guns blazing. You can't go in there telling her what she has to do with your child."

"But she is my child." Sam defended.

"Who has been raised by Mercedes by herself. Your job is to listen. To let her talk when it comes to Laya, and try your best to understand how hard it is for her to trust you with the most important person in her life."

Mercedes checked the time as her foot bounced at a fast pace. He was due there any minute, and she was so unsure of what she was getting herself into. Smoothing down the deep purple top she was wearing, she grabbed her phone.

Mercy: He's late

Bas: No, he's not.

Tana: Ten minutes late is late, Newbie.

Bas: Am I really a newbie if I have known her for over 8 years?

Tana: You are a newbie to our group. But still, he's late.

Bas: He's a man who is about to talk to his baby momma. Give the man a chance to breathe for a minute.

Mercy: You better not be rooting for Team Sam!

Bas: As always, I am rooting for Team Laya. She's the real winner here, and she gets her wish.

Tana: I agree with Newbie. Lay is the big winner if this talk works out.

Mercy: I think he's here. I heard a car pull up.

Bas: Good luck

Tana: If you hit him, go for the gut

Mercy: The gut?

Tana: Yes. If you go for the balls, you get one hit cause he's on the floor. If you go for the gut, you can hit him twice; when he doubles over, punch him.

Mercy: You have given this too much thought

Bas: It's pretty scary

Mercy: I gotta go bye.

Mercedes hung up the phone as there was a knock on the door. She walked to it, looking down at her yoga pants, and wondered if she needed to change.

"Well, it's too late now." She said to herself. Opening the door, she moved to the side, not looking at him; she wasn't ready yet. Closing the door, she leaned against it before exhaling deeply.

"Go ahead and have a seat." She said and walked over to the couch. She placed her hands on her lap after she took a seat, focusing on the living room table.

"So…" Sam said as he clapped his hands together. It really didn't matter what she wore; she was breathtaking. "Are you going to look at me?"

Mercedes didn't look his way, and he frowned. "Mercedes, please. Please look at me."

Mercedes hesitated before she lifted her eyes to meet his. Old familiar feelings stirred inside her, and as much as she wished it they didn't, the love she felt for him all those years ago came back in full force. And it made her hate him more.

"Fine, your mother said you wanted to talk, so talk." She said with a bite.

"Mercedes, are you just trying to be difficult?"

Mercedes laughed bitterly. "Oh, I'm being difficult? I wasn't the one who ran away like a coward!"

"I was seventeen, Mercedes! Excuse me for being a little scared."

Mercedes stood up. "No! I was scared! I had to deliver our daughter without you!"

"It wasn't by choice!" Sam said, standing up as well. "I was confused and lost for so long."

"Sam, when the hell are you gonna grow up?!"

Sam moved closer to her. "In case you haven't noticed, Mercedes, but I am a grown-ass man and have been for some time."

"Are you? Could have fooled me. Because what I am seeing is just a little boy making an excuse after excuse. Why not just admit that you screwed up!" She growled.

"I made a mistake, but I shouldn't be punished for it!"

Mercedes shook her head. "No, the mistake was mine! For thinking you could do this! For thinking that you could stand up and be the man, I needed you to be back then. Let yourself out."

Mercedes turned away from him, but Sam grabbed her hand, pulling her to him. All he wanted to do was talk to her, but when he saw her face, he knew that she was still the love of his life. And at that moment, be it right or wrong, he wanted her. Pulling her into his arms, he moved to kiss her, but her fists were faster than his lips, and as her hand connected with his face, she yelled at him.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"

"I'm sorry. I just…I wasn't thinking." Sam stammered.

"I am not one of your groupies who you throw a quick bang to and think that everything will be okay! You were wrong, Sam. You were wrong about hurting me, wrong about leaving us, and just wrong!" Mercedes cried angrily. "And how dare you try and kiss me when you are engaged!"

Sam ran his hands through his hair. "I'm sorry." Sam sighed heavily. "Not for the engaged thing because I am not engaged. That isn't true. But everything else…" Sam moved closer to her.

Mercedes stepped back, but Sam threw his hands into the air. "Mercedes, I won't touch you again. I was a coward, Mercedes. I should have listened to you, and I should have fought to stay."

Sam moved slightly closer. "I let my grandfather convince me I was protecting my family, and I let him get in my ear. Then after time went by, I came back, but I learned you had moved. I really thought you wanted nothing from me."

"Then you didn't know me at all, and I certainly didn't know you!" She spat.

"Oh, here we go again! Mercedes, how many ways do you want me to say sorry!"

"I want you to mean it! God Sam, I waited for you! I was willing to give up my entire life for you! I wanted a family with you, Sam!"

"I wanted that too." Sam sighed.

"Oh ho ho, that much was clear when you walked the hell away from me!"

Sam folded his arms across his chest. "It's like you just want to hear what you want to hear. Not one word I am saying is getting through that thick skull of yours."

Mercedes froze, staring at him. "My what?"

"You heard me! You are the most stubborn person I have ever met! You've always been stubborn!"

She cut her eyes at him. "And you have always been a jackass!"

"Yeah, well, you loved this jackass," Sam said.

"Which was clearly a mistake. And so was agreeing to this. She's not ready, and neither are you."

Mercedes walked out of the room, and Sam ran after her. "You can't just decide that!"

"Why the hell not, Sam? I have been deciding everything for her since the moment she came into this world!"

"Well, I am here now, and I deserve to be in her life!"

"Deserve? What you deserve? Sam, what could you possibly deserve after abandoning us? What was I supposed to tell her? You were willing to sign your rights to her over. And as far as I am concerned, me even considering letting you anywhere near, that girl is more than you deserve."

"Mercedes, will you stop punishing her for my mistakes!"

"Punishing her? You think I am the one punishing her?" Mercedes ran on him, shoving him hard in the chest. "I trusted you, Sam!"

"Mercedes I-"

"I TRUSTED YOU! I TRUSTED YOU!" She said, punching him in the chest. "I TRUSTED YOU!" She screamed again, tears falling from her eyes.

Sam pulled her close, but she shook herself out of his hold. "Stop touching me! You lost that right!" She cried. "This hurts Sam! You left me! You left her!"

"I'M SORRY!" Sam said.

"Sorry doesn't matter! How sorry will you be when you decide to leave again! Sam, you destroyed my heart! I won't let you hurt her! I can't bear for her to feel this way!"

For the first time in all of this, he truly felt helpless. Seeing Mercedes cry, she wasn't crying just for herself; she was crying for their daughter, and that destroyed him in a way he never felt possible. "I'm so sorry I promise I am. Please, Mercedes."

She didn't look at him, so he fell to the ground, grabbing her waist. "I'm sorry. I hurt you. I know I did, but I promise I won't hurt her! I won't break you! I won't! I won't." he said, feeling himself break down. "I'm sorry. I am so so sorry."

Sam held her close, not wanting to let her go. "I just want a chance."

Mercedes pulled away from him. "If you hurt her."

"I won't! I promise I won't." Sam said, getting to his feet.

"I can't trust you!"

Sam took her hand and nodded. "I know. But I will do anything." Sam let his tears fall, looking at her. "I should have been there. I should have been strong enough to fight for you and our daughter. I…" He sniffed. "I was a coward. I was dumb. But Mercedes, I swear when I saw those letters. If I had known you wanted to see me."

Mercedes could feel some of that wall breaking down no matter how bad she wanted to keep it up fully. "I wanted you…." She cleared her throat. "I wanted you with us. I needed you for so many nights, and Sebastian was there and Hunter, but I needed you."

Sam nodded. "One of the guys you were engaged to?"

Mercedes let off a small laugh. "Yeah, No." She moved to sit at the kitchen table that they somehow were next to, and Sam followed suit. "I met Sebastian one night when I was working at the restaurant."

"The one you own?"

She nodded. "I recently bought it off of Gigi. I went into labor while waiting at Sebastian's table and his dad's. And his dad, being a Heart Surgeon, took over and helped me give birth to Malaya, right next to Sebastian, who held my hand the whole time. He's been my best friend ever since."

"I am sure I owe him a lot," Sam said softly.

"Him and his boyfriend of 5 years, Hunter."

Sam felt relief that he didn't think he should, but it was short-lived at her next question.

"Sam, I may be considering letting you in Malaya's life, and I know that means letting your family in…but I am not sure I am okay with her meeting your fiancee yet." She said softly. "Nothing against her; I am not sure she's ready for all that. I didn't even let her meet the guy I was engaged to until I was sure he was the one, and he wasn't, so they never met."

Sam nodded. "That isn't an issue, and I wasn't lying when I said we weren't engaged. She and I have dated on and off, and I think she is more in love with the idea of being my wife than me."

"And you? Do you love her?" She asked, immediately wishing she didn't. "I am sorry; that's not my business." She said, standing.

"No. I don't. I don't love her."

Mercedes nodded, going to the counter. "I think we can do a small meeting. Something with just you. I don't want to bombard her. Sam, Malaya is so wonderfully made. That little girl is a light, but she's been recently questioning why she doesn't have a dad."

Sam looked at her, concerned. "She has?"

"This all is happening so fast. I don't know if I can handle it." She said, wringing her hands out, feeling a panic surround her.

Sam stepped closer to her; he knew this side of her well; when they first found out she was pregnant, she had a full-blown panic attack at the fear. "Breathe with me, Mercedes. In and Out."

She looked at him and followed his lead, breathing in and out slowly.

"Tell me something about her, anything."

Mercedes swallowed. "She loves Ms. Marvel." She smiled softly. "Had me decorate her room and get her the costume, and she's her favorite superhero."

"A girl after her father's heart," Sam said proudly. "I saw the photos. What was that for? At first, I thought Halloween."

"It was her party. Everyone dressed up."

Sam nodded, going to grab Mercedes a bottle of water. "What was she this year for Halloween?"

Mercedes took a sip of the water before pulling out her phone. "Her friends wanted a group thing, so they all went as Hogwarts Students."

Sam looked at the photos and smiled. "Gryffindor. Nice. You are a really great mother, but I am not surprised."

"Because she's a Gryffindor, Marvel-loving kid?" She asked.

"No. Mercedes because of all the photos you showed and how she was when she met my mom. I can tell just by that you raised her right and raised her to be like you."

Mercedes pushed a plate of cookies over to him. "She made these."

"Who made what?"

Mercedes grabbed a decorated cookie and smiled. "Malaya made these with my mom and yours, and she decorated them."

Sam raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious? These look amazing." Sam said. "I didn't know she had this talent."

"There is a lot you don't know."

Sam grabbed a cookie as Mercedes went to get them some milk. "Okay, tell me what I don't know."

Mercedes sighed. "She is a great judge of character already. And she is smart. Straight A's all the way."

"That is all you." Sam smiled proudly.

"And she plays the guitar and piano, and she has been playing piano since she was two and started the guitar at seven. And she is considering joining the middle school band in a few years, so she's debating picking up the flute."

"I play the guitar."

Mercedes nodded. "I know."

Sam sat in awe as Mercedes pulled up a video.

"This was her getting her purple belt in Ju Jitsu. She's really talented."

Sam watched the video and shook his head. "Wow. Look at her kick his ass!"

Mercedes laughed a genuine laugh for the first time that afternoon and sighed. "There is another video I want to show you."

Sam watched as she moved through a bunch of photos and froze, seeing Malaya in Mercedes's arms after she was just born. Tears sprang to her eyes as he watched Mercedes's mom kiss her forehead and Mercedes hold their daughter close.

"Was the delivery hard?"

"She was born before we got to the Hospital, and since it happened so fast, it wasn't bad at all. I was just exhausted and sore. She was a few weeks early. Six pounds one ounce. Perfect."

Sam leaned in and bumped her side. "Okay, so stop selling me on the kid. She's mine, so I know she isn't all roses and sunshine."

Mercedes hesitated for a moment. "She doesn't like spinach but loves Broccoli. She hates anything orange, including food, but that's just a phase. She can be stubborn, which I know she gets from you and me. But mostly, she's a joy."

"Why do you call her Lil nugget?"

Mercedes looked at him, confused. "How do you know that?"

"Stevie and I saw you the other day in the store, and I couldn't work up enough guts to actually talk to you. But we heard you call her that."

Mercedes relaxed with a smile. "The first actual food Malaya ever tried was by accident. I had worked a double shift, and I was tired, and I had ordered some nuggets from the kitchen and then headed home. When I got there, Sebastian and I got to talking, and Laya, who was about 9 months old. Crawl walked over to my styrofoam container, opened it, and just went 'ummm' which I learned was Laya speak for yum."

"She was gumming that thing, huh?"

Mercedes took a few moments to show him the video. "Look at that girl. I called her my Lil nugget thief, but I dropped the thief because I didn't want that negativity on her."

Sam exhaled, staring at it.

"You can scroll up. I had to buy extra storage because I never deleted anything. Well, not really."

Sam nodded as he scrolled through Mercedes's phone, feeling his emotions getting the better of him.

"That's Sebastian."

He sniffed, wiping his eyes. "I figured, and he is in a lot of her photos."

"He's her Godfather, so he would be."

"And who is this?"

Mercedes looked at the photo of her, and her ex cuddled up and the next kissing. "That is Jamal. He and I were engaged for about six months."

Sam stared at the man who was his opposite in just about every aspect of the word. The man looked taller than him and more buff. And that was saying a lot since Sam was in the NFL. "What…what happened?"

Mercedes shook her head, standing and moving away from Sam. "Yeah, we are not doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Sam, if you want a relationship with your daughter, that's great. I will do my best to try and be okay with that. But when it comes to me and you make no mistake. That is never happening again. We were done a long time ago."

"I still lo-"

"Shut up!" She said, shaking her head. "Just shut up, Sam. This is about Laya. That's it. If that's not enough for you, then leave."

Sam stared at her. One step at a time, he whispered to himself. She didn't trust him, but she still loved him. He could feel it. "It's enough, Mercedes. It's more than enough."

She nodded. "Good. I need to make a few phone calls. You can either stay here until Miles gets back with her or go home, and I'll bring her by later."

"I would like to wait if that's okay." He asked softly.

"Fine." She said, walking out of the room without another word.