Enjoy lovebugs ;)

Artie Abrahams was not only a tech wiz but also a semi-retired mercenary. He had been working with this agency that dropped him on his ass after Artie broke their number one rule. Having a normal life. Artie had met this woman named Sugar Motta and married her, and of course, they ended up having a child. While Artie was excellent at his job, he was also amazing at being a husband and a father, and by the time he tried to pull away from the agency, it was too late. Artie was their best assassin. He never made that big of a mess, checked his temper, and, of course, never got caught. However, his family was an issue. So they ended up kidnapping Artie, locking him away for months, or maybe even a year, forbidding him from ever speaking to his family. Once they let him go, Artie kept a simple life, living out of motels and pickpocketing in the train stations. Mercedes found him for Sean's presidency, and she got him a place to stay and a way of life. He was forever grateful for her, and he made a promise to himself that if Mercedes were ever in danger, he would kill everyone to keep her safe.

That is why, currently, they have Artie sitting at the table while Sam, Harris, and Santana are cleaning up a dead body, and Mercedes is working on getting Artie cleaned and getting him new clothes. Three trashbags, a discarded mop, and about five gallons of bleach later, there was no trace of Kurt being murdered in their office. Now, they just had to figure out how to cover their tracks.

"He is going to have to wipe the security cameras. Kurt's car wasn't here, so hopefully, he just ended up walking over here, and if anyone asks, no one has seen Kurt since this morning," Sam explained to the group. While they all nodded their heads, Mercedes kept her eyes trained on Artie, who hadn't stopped shifting back and forth since Sam threw away the trash bags. His eyes were bloodshot, and he kept running his hands back and forth on his pants.

"Artie, look at me," Mercedes whispered. His eyes landed on hers reluctantly. "This is not your fault, OK? You were protecting me, and that is all ok. Nothing more, nothing less. I am not going to let them take you again, OK? I promise."

"I, I, I wasn't following the rules. If news hits about Kurt, they may draw the clues together and come back and find me, and if not me, then Sugar and Adam. She isn't in a relationship. No one can protect her or my son Mercedes." Mercedes took his hand into hers.

"I am going to protect them, Artie, I am going to fix this, I promise, but you can't stay here right now. I need you to go to the apartment that I keep for you, OK?"

"But-"

"No buts, Artie, go there, and tomorrow I will fix everything, OK." Mercedes insisted.

The next day, Mercedes and Sam were standing at the front door of Sugar Motta. Adam had taken the bus to school already, so this was the perfect timing.

"Let's pray for the best," Sam insisted as he knocked on the door.

Sugar Motta was surprised to open the door and see an attractive power couple at her stoop. They were both wearing black, the lady in a black suit, while the man wore a black suit and a button down.

"Can I help you both?" She questioned.

Mercedes said, "Sugar, we are here to speak to you about your husband, Artie Abrams."

She rolled her eyes, but Mercedes saw the twinkle in them, "He left six months after our son was born. There is absolutely nothing to speak about. He could be dead, or he could have moved on, but I have been here raising his son for the past eight years by myself. That's all I know."

"Do you think we could come in," Sam questioned.

"For what I already told you what I know?" Sugar insisted.

"Ms. Motta, please, what we have to say needs to be in the privacy and the sanctity of your own home," Mercedes begged. Sugar sighed before opening the door and gesturing for them to come in. Despite her resentment towards Artie, everyone saw the two photos on the side table. One with Artie and Sugar at their ceremony, and the other at the birth of Adam. Sugar guided them towards the living room, and Sam and Mercedes sat across from her on the couch.

Mercedes began, "The reason why Artie disappeared is because he was working for this company, and this company did not like that you and him had gotten married and had Adam. In order to protect you both, Artie had to go off the grid, and that's why he has been for the last several years. However, we promised Artie that we could contact and make sure no one came after you and Adam, and eventually, once you guys were safe, we were hoping that you two would reconnect, and he could be there for you and Adam."

Sugar looked at the two before walking over to the fireplace, and she pulled a gun out and sat back down, placing the weapon on the table, "For one, I can protect myself. Artie made sure of that. For two, I had an idea that his job wasn't, in fact, legal. However, it never connected to me that they would be the reason why he would leave. I have been doing my best trying to keep his memory alive for Adam, but I was starting to give up. Is he ok?"

Mercedes answered, "He is okay, but he has missed you, and I know you are probably wondering why he didn't contact you sooner, but he was dealing with some things, and he didn't want to put you or your son in danger. Sugar, Artie loves you, and he would do anything for you and your son, even if it means stepping away to keep you safe." She insisted as Sugar let the tears fall freely before wiping them away.

"This is the first time I have ever really cried about him, I never got to grieve because I had to be strong for Adam. Please just tell him to come home." Sugar begged.

"He'll be here sooner than you think," Sam assured her as he helped Mercedes up, and they left Sugar alone in her tears. Upon exiting the house, they crossed the street to the car and hopped in, with Artie hanging around in the backseat.

"Is she ok?" He questioned as he kept looking at the house.

"Go inside, Artie, it's handled," Mercedes spoke. Artie looked at his friend and grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze and patting Sam on his back before going across the street. He knocked on the door, and in a few moments, he saw the love of his life who had wiped away her tears, but it looked like she was going to rev it back up again.

"Hi, Sugar, I missed you," Artie spoke. She didn't say a word. She grabbed him and enveloped him in the strongest hug she could muster as tears fell down her face, and Artie returned the sentiment.

"Is there anything else that we need to fix, or can we start traveling?" Sam questioned as he looked at Mercedes.

"Sebastian, he needs to know, after all, he did love Kurt, even if he was an awful spouse," Mercedes said. Without another word spoken, Sam turned on the car and peeled into the streets as Mercedes put the address into the GPS.

She rapped on the door a few times before Sebastian opened the door. He looked at her face and knew everything he already needed to know. He let Mercedes in and guided her to the kitchen, pouring them two cups of coffee.

"I knew he was either going to go to jail, get killed, or flee, so tell me, Mercedes, which one is it?" Sebastian questioned.

Mercedes sighed, "Sebastian."

"Mercedes, please don't spare me the details. I know if he is dead, I won't be able to have a memorial for him with his body or his ashes, and quite frankly, Merce, I don't want. This marriage was just something to keep me, and it worked, but I saw all those messages between him and Blaine Anderson. Even before the marriage, Kurt was entertaining other men, ranging from politicians, interns, you name it. I am not upset, and maybe it is because I am a horrible, emotionless person, but I can't feel bad for my spouse when my spouse never even tried to consider me. So if he is dead, Mercedes, that is fine. Just tell me." Sebastian assured her.

"He tried to kill me in my office, and he got shot in the process," Mercedes answered, sparing him the details.

Sebastian sighed, "Figures he could never take accountability for his own actions. Mercedes, I love you, and quite frankly, there were times when you were more attached to our relationship than he was. Look, I don't hold any regrets or any resentment, and quite frankly, I don't really care. I plan on selling the house and moving to California, probably fall in some lustful relationship with a beach boy, and do whatever since money hasn't and won't ever be an issue."

Mercedes smiled, "I'm glad you figured it out."

"After all, it's handled. So what about you? Any plans, hopefully, they included staying with that hunk that is in the car."

"Going to Nevis Island to enjoy the tranquility and peace."

"Be safe Mercedes."

"I will, Sebastian." The two long-standing friends joined in a hug and let out a hug when they both let tears shed. Mercedes exited the home, got back in the car, and grabbed his hand.

"Ready to head to Nevis now?" Sam questioned.

"More than ready." Mercedes insisted.