Enjoy lovebugs ;)

Mercedes had called this meeting with Kurt because it was long overdue for the both of them to have a conversation. Before Sean, they were the best of their friends, just as they were competitors. One of them always tried to prove that their idea was better and it would work better than most. Mercedes was the relationship therapist to both Kurt and Sebastian and advocated for them both to be able to work out their drama and be together. However, after Kurt was promoted and Mercedes and Sean broke up, their friendship essentially died. Mercedes was hurt that Kurt hadn't dropped everything and been there for her in her moment of need. So she iced him out, she put him in the box that she put Sean in, and as a result, their conversations grew to nothing.

So now she was sitting in her office at her desk with Kurt in front of her, and he looked like pure shit. However, that had to be expected since his boss was impeached and then sent to prison in the same time frame.

"How is Sebastian?" Mercedes began.

"Well, I think he might file for a divorce because Sebastian might have forwarded those flirtatious messages between me and Blaine Anderson. While nothing happened physically, those messages definitely alluded to it. We have been sleeping in opposite rooms for the past week. Also, I am probably going to be out of a very cushioned job since my former boss has been impeached and arrested in the same breath. But alas, I am alive. How are you?" Kurt explained.

Mercedes sighed, "I'm in love. I was the victim of a revenge porn attack. I was kidnapped at one point, nearly raped, then came back and did something wrong. However, my dad ended up paying for a a trip to Nevis for me and my boyfriend. Now I am standing here looking at my best friend who looks like shit and whose life is falling apart. Kurt, I love you, and you know that more than anyone, but what happened to you?"

"What do you think Mercedes? That whole thing about the Vice President being the second-hand to the president is a bunch of bullshit. It is actually the Chief of Staff. I did everything to keep that ship running and to keep everyone afloat, and yet here I am with nothing to show for it. And look at that, you, your own business, your own family, it's like you left unscathed in all of this. You left when he couldn't do one thing for you, and you isolated me, Mercedes."

"Because you weren't there for me, Kurt. I broke up with him, and you decided to pick his side."

"No, I chose my job; I wanted for you both to work out. Believe me, I did, Mercedes, but I had a career of my own. Sure, it wasn't as kick-ass and mysterious as yours, but it was mine, and now it is gone."

"Kurt, I love you, and I adore you, but you have to understand that I couldn't stay there, and I am so sorry that I left you, but it was the best thing for me to do. I know you have a job in limbo here, but you have to recognize that you are welcome here, no questions asked. There is a position for you here, Kurt."

Kurt sighed and grabbed his things, "I'll think about it. You take care of yourself, Mercedes."

Sam sat on Mercedes's desk, watching as she paced back and forth in her small office. She had been like this for the past ten minutes, and while he found it amusing, he also found it concerning.

"Mercedes, baby, you can not fix everything. If Kurt doesn't want to work here, you don't need to try and force him to."

"It doesn't have to do anything with forcing him, Sam, and it's just that I can tell something is wrong. This whole time, he has been off, and sure, he lost his job, but still. Does he blame me for everything that happened?" Mercedes answered.

"Babe, nothing was your fault. This was all on Sean. Sure, Kurt was his right hand, and he probably was privy to much information, but baby, nothing is on you. And I know you want to fix everything with Kurt, but baby, maybe this isn't something you should try to fix. You should let it run its course and see how everything goes." Sam reasoned.

"But I have known Kurt for a long time, and I don't want our friendship ruined over something like this." Mercedes insisted. Sam leaned forward, grabbed her hand, and pulled her to him as she rested between his legs.

"This is not something that you can fix by using your extensive vocabulary or the endless amount of resources you have. This is something that simply has to pass. I know you are not used to just sitting and letting something run its course, but you have to do it. Just this one time."

Mercedes rolled her eyes and pouted her lips, "I hate it when you are being rational and cute, but there is still one more thing that I have to do."

"And that is?" Sam questioned as Santana, Harris, and Artie sat at the roundtable desk.

Mercedes tossed each of them an envelope that had about two-million thousand for all of them.

"Talk about payday," Santana explained as she opened the envelope and thumbed through the cash.

"Where did you get this kind of money, Merce?" Harris questioned.

"This has been money that I have said from all of our jobs in the past, and also some money that I was able to pull from the government since their president is an asshole. I knew this day would come and wanted to ensure I left you all with something. I am planning to shut down Jones & Associates for a year, maybe longer. I will not leave it completely, but I think after all we have been through these past few months, we need a break more than anything. Now, if you guys want to keep it running, then that's fine, but remove my name." Mercedes explained.

All three of them sat in silence before Artie spoke up first.

"Are you going back to Nevis?"

"Maybe, but I might just stay here and figure out what normal is like. But I don't ever plan on leaving you all in the dust, and I hope the money solidified it."

Santana spoke, "Mercedes, we love you, and we appreciate this, and I, for one, can say as much as I love chasing down badasses and being the unspoken heroes, I want a break too. I want to give more time to Quinn."

Harris joined, "I love you all, but I think this break could be good for us."

Mercedes smiled at them before turning to Artie, "Artie, are you okay with this."

Artie looked up from the envelope he hadn't touched, "Is it okay if I live here? You know I always lived here, and I don't really go to a home of my own."

"Artie, with this money, man, you can buy yourself a home." Harris pointed out.

"But here, with my equipment and the screens, is my home, and I don't want to leave." Artie gritted out, and instantly, Mercedes walked over to him.

"Yes, Artie, you can say, and hack into shit until your heart's content, but only that ok. Promise me, Artie."

Artie smiled through the tears, "I promise."

Mercedes and Sam had been having dinner at his place when it hit Mercedes that she had left some of her personnel in the safe she had in her office. Now, typically, she would have kept it on her to-do list until tomorrow, but tomorrow, she and Sam were heading to Nevis for a week until she decided where else they wanted to go. So, like a good boyfriend, Sam drove her to the office, and she alone went up to her office. Not noticing that there was a figure that had been inside of the building waiting for her.

She was in her office, not bothering to turn on any other lamps except the lamp one. She turned the combination and started pulling stuff out when her ears rang profusely. She crouched down as she held her ears, and she might have let out a yell, but she couldn't tell you because it all happened so fast. She breathed erratically as she turned and saw Artie with one of his guns at his side.

"A-Artie, what did you do." She whispered as she looked over the desk and saw a dead Kurt Hummell on the ground with a knife at his side.

Artie started breathing hard, "I didn't mean to break the promise, Merce. I'm sorry."