Guys! I gotta say that I love all of the reviews, and thank you so much for the love and support. The messages of how much you appreciate me. That is why I do this. Stay safe and blessed!

Also so, Amber was robbed! I knew she was the Jellyfish, and I am so pissed! What is going on with the UK Masked Singer Audienve?! How did the one person who had two of the best songs last night get voted off? She was the front-runner from day one! DAY ONE! Okay, that was my little rant. Still mad, but I am okay. lol.

2 Weeks Later

Mercedes sat on her sofa, snuggled next to Laya as they face-timed Sam.

"Daddy!"

"There are my girls. How was school Laya?"

"Boring." She said. "Daddy, I miss you; when can I see you again?"

"I dunno, baby girl, there is so much going on here, and I have been so busy. But soon. Very soon. Have you done your homework?"

"I did it with Uncle Bas, though I had to tell him what fractions were." She giggled.

"I am sure you make an excellent teacher. And how was your day beautiful." Sam asked Mercedes.

"Exhausting. I had to fire three waitresses, so now I need to hire a few."

"I am sorry you have been so stressed."

Mercedes nodded. "It's okay, Sam; I was gone for over two weeks; there was a lot to deal with. But I don't regret it. I am glad we came home."

"Me too!" Laya said, yawning. "Best Christmas ever…daddy, can you tell me a bedtime story again tonight?"

Sam nodded. "Bath and PJs, then momma will bring you the phone."

Malaya jumped up happily and ran to her room.

"Sam, she loves your storytime."

Sam smiled. "I love it too. Getting to spend time with her, even over the phone, it's like I get to bond with her, and it's beautiful."

Mercedes sighed. "I know you wish we would have stayed, Sam."

"You have a life there, Merce, and Laya has school; I couldn't let you just up and leave. Not for me."

"Sam…"

"Mercedes, I want to be the man you would be willing to give up on, but right now, I am not. But I will be. I want to be the man you and Laya deserve."

Mercedes exhaled. "Sam, I…"

"How about we talk about all this when I see you, okay?"

Mercedes nodded. "Okay."

"Promise me; we can talk about us when we see each other?"

"I promise."

"And I get a kiss?" Sam asked.

Mercedes laughed. "Yes, you will get a kiss on the cheek."

"Uh uh, I want a kiss on the lips, a real Mercedes Jones kiss. Call it a reward for the past few weeks."

Mercedes shook her head with a smile. "Fine, Sam Evans, when I see you again, I will kiss you; go good; it will knock your socks off. Now get home, and call us for story time."

"You got it, and I am going to be home soon. See ya."

Mercedes smiled, hanging up. She had to admit that it was great to have Sam back in her life, even if it was just as friends, but the way he was with Malaya warmed her cold heart towards him. He was everything she wanted him to be.

"Laya, are you still in the bath?" Mercedes called up to her.

"Yes, momma, I'll be out in a minute."

Mercedes turned to head up the stairs as the doorbell rang. Checking her watch, she shook her head. Sebastian was about ten minutes early. After he left, he said he would come back to help her figure out her staffing situation. She reached to open the door.

"Bas, you have never been early a day in your li- Sam?"

Sam smiled. "Honey, I am home."

"What are you doing here?"

"Well, my season is over, and my daughter deserves to get story time in person. Besides, I was promised a real Mercedes Jones kiss."

Mercedes gasped. "You tricked me!"

Sam smirked. "Still holding you to it." He said, pulling her close. "I have been waiting forever for a Mercedes Jones kiss."

Mercedes licked her bottom lip, trying to calm the raging butterflies in her stomach. Sam leaned in, and Mercedes nipped at his lips.

Sam shook his head. "Uh uh, I need more." He said, running his hands through her hair as he devoured her lips. Mercedes melted into him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him back as he pushed her against the door.

His lips went to her neck as her thigh wrapped around him. "Sam…" She whimpered. It had been so long since she felt this way.

"I want you so bad…" Sam hissed, kissing a trail down her neck.

"Ahem." Came from behind them.

Sam and Mercedes broke apart as Sebastian stared at them. "Damn girl, is this how you tip the delivery man now?"

"I am actually Sam Evans."

Sebastian nodded. "Ah, the baby daddy."

Mercedes laughed, shaking her head, but a scream came from behind her before she could speak.

"Daddy? Daddy, you're here!" Laya squealed as she ran to Sam's arms.

"He lil one! You ready for that bedtime story?"

She nodded happily, hugging him closely. "Are you staying?"

Sam smiled brightly. "For a while, and my season is over, and I want to know all about your life."

Mercedes sat back and smiled happily at seeing Sam and Laya together. "Why don't you show daddy your room and do your story time? I will even let you stay awake an extra thirty minutes."

Laya screamed happily, running up the stairs grabbing Sam's hand, and leading him to her room.

Sebastian stood closer to Mercedes, clicking his teeth. "So we are on the making out level now?"

"No!" Mercedes defended.

"I literally caught you making out with him."

"He tricked me. He made me promise I would kiss him the next time I saw him; I thought that wouldn't be for months…I didn't know he was outside."

Sebastian laughed. "Smart man. So how long is he staying?"

Mercedes moved to let Sebastian fully in and then shut her door. "I don't know. He literally showed up and stuck his tongue down my throat."

"And from the moaning, I know you liked it."

Mercedes blushed, shoving him. "Can we just get to work?"

"Why? Want to experience more sexy fun times with Sam? Gotta say he is sexy as hell. The photos don't do him justice. Not at all."

Mercedes glanced at the clock as she and Sebastian finished reviewing the applications. They had twelve solid contenders, and she felt less stressed.

Sebastian's phone rang, and he smiled, making Mercedes aware that it was definitely Huntr calling. He answered, and Mercedes smiled. "Hi, Hunter!"

She heard him say hi back, and she looked at Sebastian. "I am going to check on Sam and Malaya."

Mercedes smiled, walking out of the room and going to Malaya's room, stopping as she saw Sam and Laya cuddled on the bed, sleeping.

Sebastian came up behind her. "Well, would you look at that?"

"This has become one of my favorite past times, watching them like this. They both look so happy, so peaceful."

"The way a father and daughter should be."

Mercedes leaned against Sebastian. "This scares the hell out of me, Bas."

Sebastian wrapped his arms around her. "What does?"

"How easy all this is becoming. Him and her getting along like this, us being a family. I can't…I can't fall for this again, and yet I know it would be very easy to do it."

Sebastian took a deep breath. "I think you are wise to be cautious. What happened between you is, it's tough because you have a chance to be a real family and give that beautiful little girl everything she has dreamed of. Or you can step back and let them have their relationship without you in it. The question is, what do you want? Do you want a family? Or do you want to step back?"

She sighed heavily. "I wish I knew the right answer. If I just let them have this, I could miss out on something amazing. But if I get with him and let this happen, I could open myself up to pain and trauma."

"Being in love takes risks, Merce. You should know how much it took for Hunter and me, but I love him; I love him with everything I have, and now I can say it. And now I can accept it. But it took me almost losing him."

Mercedes chewed her bottom lip. "Sam and I have been apart for almost ten years."

Sam stirred and stretched out, moving to get off the bed. Sebastian kissed her forehead. "I am going to go; you go talk to that man…See you later, Evans."

Sam pulled the covers up and around Laya as he stepped out of the room. "How long was I sleep?"

"I don't know; I mean, you were up here for two hours…how many books did she get you to read?" Mercedes asked, walking down the stairs.

Sam smiled, following her. "Three, and then she asked me to take her to school; she wanted to show me her classroom and everything."

"You can come with us when I take her tomorrow if you are staying for a while…is this a one-night-only visit?"

Sam shook his head. "I want to be here for a while. That is, if you let me, I can get a room and come and go as you need me."

"Sam, you can stay here; I have a guest room that Bas sometimes uses," Mercedes said softly.

Sam turned her towards him. "Afraid to let me sleep in the same bed as you?"

She sighed. "A part of me is, yes, but another part doesn't want to confuse Laya; we don't know what's happening, so let's just take it day by day."

Sam ran his hand through her hair and down her cheek. "I will respect that. Can I go grab my things?"

Mercedes nodded. "Yeah. I will get the room ready."

Sam walked down the stairs and out the door as Mercedes walked to the hall closet, grabbed sheets and towels, and then walked to the room next to hers. Getting to work, changing the sheets and pillowcases, she said a silent prayer that she could handle Sam being there.

"You didn't have to do that," Sam said, putting down his big duffle bag.

"I know, but I wanted to make sure that you felt comfortable?"

Sam smiled, moving closer to her. "Do you treat all your guests with such…kindness?"

Mercedes smiled, shaking her head. "The only person who stays here is Bas, like I told you, and he can change his own sheets."

They stared at each other for a long moment before Mercedes cleared her throat. "There are fresh towels on the bed, and you can go take a shower. I am going to get ready for bed, and I am just next door if you need me."

Sam nodded. "Thanks again, Mercedes."

She nodded as she stepped out of his room and walked over to her own.

Going to her own bathroom, she started her nighttime routine, which included a shower, facial, and brushing her teeth. As she slipped into her oversized tee and a pair of yoga pants, she went to work preparing for tomorrow when a call took her out of her thoughts.

"Hey, momma, how are you?" Mercedes beamed, setting her phone on her vanity as she brushed out her curls.

"Did your present arrive?"

Mercedes's eyes widened. "You knew he was coming!?"

"I did. He was pretty excited too. How did baby girl react?"

"She was pretty excited about it all."

"And you? Were you surprised?"

"Momma, can you not play matchmaker with my life?"

"Mercedes, you still care about him, and I know you may not be ready to open yourself up to him, but don't close yourself off to him either."

"So tell me how excited your girls were?" Mary asked, beaming through the video.

"Very, Laya couldn't stop talking and laughing; it took three stories to get her to fall asleep."

"And did you surprise Mercedes?"

Sam smiled. "I did, and I met her bff…he seems cool."

"Jealousy isn't your finest look Samuel."

"Mom, I am not jealous that he and Mercedes might be together; that's not an issue. He has this bond with them, one that I don't."

Mary breathed heavily. "Sam, what your grandfather did, all that time wasted; I am sorry, but don't let that ruin a chance to move forward."

"Mom, I am trying so hard not to move too fast. In my mind, we are already married and talking about having our third child. But with her, I have to tread lightly and make sure that she knows I am here to stay."

Mary nodded. "So go talk to her, get to know her life like you planned, and anytime you think about moving five years ahead, think of the pain you would feel if you pushed her away."

"You are pretty wise, mom."

"Well, I know you didn't think you got it from your father." She teased.

"I am gonna finish getting ready, and then I am going to talk to her, Laya, and I will call you in the morning."

"I love you, Sammy."

"Love you too."

Sam hung up, going to his bag and grabbing a pair of sweatpants; he debated going shirtless but thought against it and grabbed a tank top. Grabbing a quick shower, he dressed and paced his room, wanting an excuse for reaching out to Mercedes. He didn't know if she would see him by just walking into her room, but he had to try.

Knocking on her door, he inhaled as Mercedes opened the door. Every time he saw her, she was more and more beautiful. Earlier in a pencil skirt and a blouse, he had to stop his hands from roaming all over her body, and now in sleepwear, she looked just as beautiful, natural.

"Uh, Hi."

"Hey Sam, is everything okay?"

He nodded. "I wanted to say goodnight."

She smiled. "Goodnight."

Sam stared at her, and Mercedes blushed under his gaze. "What?"

Sam took Mercedes's hands and led her to the bed. "I want to make sure that you are okay with me being here. Okay, with me staying in this house with you and Laya. It's a big deal and takes a lot of trust on your part."

"Sam, you have shown me in the last month that you can be trusted. The way you are with Lay the way you, period."

"You can trust me with you too. I won't lie and say I don't want you. Looking at you, God, you are even more beautiful than you were the first time I saw you. But Mercedes, you and I have been through so much. I am afraid to be myself because I want to kiss you and hold you and never let go."

"You always did fall fast." Mercedes smiled.

"I did then, and I can see myself falling now. Tell me about raising Laya?"

"What?" Mercedes asked, looking at him.

Sam kicked off his shoes and laid back on the bed, pulling her to him. "Tell me about it, and I want to know."

Mercedes smiled as she snuggled closer to Sam; out of all the things he could ask her, she never thought he would ask her that. "Well, it's been tough at times. But not because of her; I got lucky; Laya was always such a sweet baby; she didn't cry, and she didn't get in trouble. She was amazing. But being a single parent…if it weren't for my family, I wouldn't have made it."

Sam linked his fingers with hers. "Well, you don't have to do it without me anymore. I know that I have work, and you guys are here, but I promise I will figure it all out."

"I don't doubt it, Sam; how about we spend whatever time you have here not reliving the past but looking to the future."

Sam smiled, kissing her forehead. "I really like that."

"How long are you going to be here?"

"Hopefully, six weeks or so." He said, closing his eyes. "Can we just lay like this for a few more moments?" Sam asked, holding her close.

"Okay," Mercedes said, already feeling sleepy.

Sam didn't know how he fell asleep or when but his heart swelled when he awoke to not only Mercedes in his arms but to Laya as well. He didn't know when she got into the bed with them, but Sam didn't care, and this was everything.

Mercedes entered the house and threw her bag onto the table as she looked towards the kitchen. One of the things she loved about her home was the open floor plan. Seeing Sam and Laya in the kitchen dancing and cooking it was beautiful.

When she awoke, she, Sam, and Laya were all cuddled in the bed; it was picture-perfect in a way she hadn't ever felt. Not wanting to dwell on it, she focused on getting everyone ready; she let Sam help Laya pick out her clothes as she got breakfast ready. After they ate, the three of them went to Laya's school, and after she showed off her famous dad, Mercedes took Sam to the restaurant, and he stayed for a while.

Knowing Mercedes had a few interviews to do, Sam offered to pick up Laya and make sure she got a snack and her homework done.

As she entered the house, she put her keys on the hook and walked towards them. "What are you making?"

"Daddy is making Tacos!"

Mercedes smiled at how happy Laya was. "How was your day, lil nugget." Mercedes said, going to kiss her on the forehead.

"Today was amazing; daddy and I went to the park after school, and then we bought daddy a bike so he could come with us on Sunday."

"If you are okay with it." Sam added.

Mercedes nodded. "I am sure we can add one more to our rides. It started as a way for me to lose baby fat, and now it's become a family tradition."

"Momma even uses the stroller for Romeo!"

Sam raised an eyebrow. "Romeo?"

Mercedes smiled. "You haven't met the last member of our family, have you? He is with Sebastian and Hunter. Whenever Hunter's parents come to town, he keeps Romeo because his mom is allergic, which means they stay at a hotel."

Sam laughed. "Sneaky way to get out of staying with parents…oh, speaking of parents. Before I forget, I know someone has a birthday coming up, and my family wanted to come down for it. If that's okay."

"Oh, momma, can they?" Laya asked excitedly.

"Of course. I think it's time to get dad in on the party planning, don't you?"

Laya nodded happily.

Sam looked at Mercedes, mouthing, 'thank you.'

"Lay, how about you and I go set the table while momma goes and changes?"

"Oh, sam, I can help." Mercedes started.

"Nope. You have done this alone for the last nine years; tonight is the first night of many where I am going to earn my weight. Now we will set the table, you change, and then we will make tacos and talk about our days."

"Like a real family!" Laya said, hopping up and down.

Sam nodded. "Yes, like a real family."

Mercedes chewed her bottom lip as she did as he said, going to change into her sweats before coming back down to a set table and an overjoyed Laya. This was something she wasn't sure she and Laya would ever get, to sit at the table with Sam as a real family.

As she sat down, Sam handed her the plate of tacos as he made Laya's plate. "How was work today? How'd the interviews go?"

"It was good." Mercedes said, grabbing the lettuce and tomatoes. "I hired one waitress already.'

"Has Bas always worked for you?"

She shook her head. "He was a lawyer for years, but then he realized that he wasn't happy and decided to do something that would make him happy; he bought a few shares of the restaurant, became my partner, and then a manager at the restaurant with me."

Malaya looked over to Sam and then to Mercedes. "Daddy, do you love momma?"

Sam stopped eating and looked at her. "I never stopped. But why are you asking?"

She smirked, looking down at her food. "Maybe you could take her on a date."

"Laya! What do you know about dates?" Mercedes asked, laughing.

"I know that nana said you ain't been on one in years, and Uncle Bas said he would watch me if daddy grew a pair and asked. Whatever that means."

Mercedes snorted shaking her head as Sam spit out his drink. "This girl is too smart."

Sam wiped his face with a napkin. "She is, but maybe she is right. I mean, I would love to take you out."

"Sam…" Mercedes warned.

"Come on, Momma; you can get dressed up and go out and have fun."

"Yeah, come on, Momma." Sam teased. "One date."

Mercedes sighed; she was backed into a corner, but the feeling of overwhelming pain or fear that she felt she should feel at the thought of going on a date with Sam. She felt. Oddly excited.

"Fine, one date. That's it."

Sam's fist bumped into the air, followed by Laya mimicking him.

"You two are goofs!" Mercedes laughed.

"Yeah, but you love us goofs," Sam said.

"Yes, you love us goofs, momma."