Enjoy!

This chapter is short intentionally!

TW: Mentions of child loss.

Chapter 23

Mercedes hated how badly everything hurt after seeing Sam and that woman kissing. She thought she'd overreacted and almost turned back several times but her mind wouldn't allow it. She should've known it was all too good to be true and she had told herself that she would enjoy the ride until it ended.

Well, it ended and now reality came crashing down like a ton of bricks. She'd been sucked into a beautiful world that is Sam Evans and now she was back to shy and alone Mercedes.

After calling an uber she skipped going back to Sam's hotel to get her things and went straight home, she knew they would need help getting Tristen settled and decided to place her focus on that.

When she arrived, she could hear arguing and quickly ran inside to see her parents and Lena's shouting at each other while Tristen sat perched up looking very disoriented.

"Hey! What's going on?" She asked loudly enough to make everyone else stop shouting.

Fallon, Lena's mother, shook her head. "Maybe you can tell me why my daughter is still in the hospital but he's out!"

Mercedes looked at her confused before looking over at her parents. "I… I thought she was leaving today too."

"She was supposed to but… there were complications and because their daughter asked us not to go into greater detail, we can not tell them why." Maxine explained and Fallon grunted.

"She's our daughter! We should know what's going on with her!"

"I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT SHE IS HIS WIFE SO HIS POSITION TRUMPS YOURS!" Maxine shouted, Mercedes had only seen her mother like this a handful of times but this time it seemed like something else was causing her to be this volatile.

"Max, maybe we should just tell them…" Kenneth suggested softly.

"Finally some common sense, please tell us what's going on with our-"

"She lost the baby." Tristen said painfully. "She didn't want anyone to know until she was ready to handle it herself. She's not here because she had to have emergency surgery, that's why she has to stay longer."

Fallon and Lena's father Chris, let out soft gasps. "She… she was pregnant?"

Tristen nodded slowly. "Had you come to our celebration you would have known it… I may not remember a ton but I do remember us sending you an invitation that you quickly shot down. You might not support us being together but you don't get to come in here acting like parents now."

Mercedes could see her brother was hurting both physically and emotionally but there was nothing she could do at this moment to help him. That made her feel bad because she was out having the time of her life and this was happening, she lost focus and now she was only slightly upset that things had ended with Sam. She found her reason to stay in Lima, to help her brother and sister-in-law as much as she could.

"We have always been present in our daughter's life." Chris said and the look Tristen shot him was telling.

"I remember what you said to me when we first met and I know she does too." Tristen replied.

Chris looked down, shaking his head. "That doesn't mean we didn't care about our daughter or wouldn't have loved our grandchild."

"Maybe the best place for you to be right now is with your daughter and not here hounding my parents." Tristen said, grunting as he shifted. "I have a headache and don't feel like dealing with this right now."

Everyone looked at him somberly before Fallon and Chris left to go check on Lena. Mercedes had been standing off to the side, wishing she knew what to say to him but she didn't and she didn't know why she kept checking her phone. She knew Sam wasn't going to call or text her.

"Hey, come here." Tristen said with a small smile.

She walked over and sat across from him. "Hey, how are you feeling?" She asked and he frowned.

"I don't know… everyone keeps asking if I'm okay though. It's crazy because I only vaguely remember finding out about the baby… I feel like I should be more upset but I'm just angry." He admitted.

Mercedes nodded slowly. "Well, for what it's worth you looked very excited when you told everyone you two were married and expecting."

He offered her a smile before looking away. "I don't know how to help Lena… I'm her husband but how do I help her through this?"

Mercedes gently grabbed his hand. "You help her by being there, she's not going through this alone… that was your child too. I know you don't remember but at the end of the day, you both lost a child."

Tristen moved her hand away from his. "I know that! You don't think I know that? I just… how do we heal from that?"

"I don't know… it's funny because I thought my world was in shambles but it seems so small now. I will help you and Lena as much as I can."

He looked at her before smirking. "Shane mentioned a boyfriend, is there anything you want to tell me?"

"There was… a guy but it's over now. I mean, I guess it is. I saw him kissing another woman and it was after he made me-" she stopped seeing the amused look on his face. "It's over."

"Doesn't sound over, sounds like you overreacted. Maybe she was kissing him, maybe you left before he had a chance to explain. You do run when things don't go how you imagined in that pretty mind of yours." Tristen said and she sighed.

"I don't run… I'm just not good at these things and I know what I saw. She smiled like she knew him."

Tristen nodded. "Want me to beat his ass with my crutch?"

She giggled. "I feel like you need that more than I need for him to get beaten up." She quipped.

"Well, take it from someone who's having to go through a ton of shit, find out the whole situation before closing the doors you want open."

She gently laid her head on his shoulder. "When did you get all wise?"

"Probably around the time you started following me around, I had to be the smart big brother that made smart choices cause I had someone watching me."

She looked at him frowning. "And putting gum in my hair was smart because?"

He chuckled before wincing. "You used to fall asleep with it in your mouth even after I tried telling you not to so I had to show you."

She rolled her eyes, "yeah, yeah tell me whatever."

"Riddle me this, did the guy seem like he would intentionally do that to you?"

Mercedes thought over his question before shaking her head. "No, he hates cheaters… he told me almost immediately."

"And has he entertained any other women in your presence?"

"No." She said softly, remembering how he was during the play.

"Then maybe there's another explanation? I know you enough to know that you're going to overthink it a dozen times but don't take too long." He replied, kissing her on the forehead.

"I just…"

"You used to think your shyness kept you from things but it was the overthinking that did. Yet somehow he managed to get this far, so if he makes you not overthink then I like him already."

"I'll call him…" she said, chewing on bottom lip.

"Mhm, we'll while you're pondering if you really will. Help me to the guest room, I'm tired, being Dr. Phil is tough."

She giggled. "Eh, he's more handsome than you." She teased, standing and slowly helping him up.

She knew he was right about Sam, she just didn't know how to go about talking to him.

Sam made it back to the hotel, seeing that Mercedes hadn't come because some of her things were there. He wanted to go to her parents but he remembered that her brother was coming home and didn't want to bring any unnecessary drama.

Pulling out his phone he started to text her but he didn't want to overwhelm her so instead he called Kitty.

"You're supposed to be with her, not calling me."

Sam huffed. "We have a problem, Penny found me."

He could hear Kitty cursing. "What do you mean she found you? Jesus Evans, how hard is it for you to just stick to one woman?"

"I'm trying! I haven't seen Penny in years! Dwight sent her… he's angry and is threatening my businesses. Mercedes saw Penny kissing me and ran off so now I have that mess to fix."

"I'm starting to see why I only like Stacey. If it makes you feel better Marley Rose won't be darkening your life any longer."

"It would if Penny wasn't on my scent now… she's a bigger problem than Marley could've ever been. I need… she has leverage."

Kitty groaned. "What do you mean she has leverage? Why do you have so many secrets?"

"It was when I was in a very dark place and she was there, she was a safe place or so I thought. She has a stake in my business… not a small portion either."

"I feel like I should quit. I don't need the drama of all this."

"That's not the real issue… we signed some papers. Drunkenly but they are binding."

"I swear if you tell me you're married-"

"No, it's nothing like that, she had dealings with Dwight's company… the piece he thinks I have she actually has… I'm not sure if she even knows this."

"What the fuck!" Kitty shouted. "Did you sign over a piece of your business to Mercedes too?! Christ!"

Sam rolled his eyes. "No I haven't, I don't think about business when I'm with her… I only think about her."

"Are… are you in love with her?"

Sam ran his hand through his hair. "I'm falling, it wasn't hard, she's not anything I'm used to. I fucked up, even if it was unintentional."

"Damnit Evans, I can only fix so much. I'll handle Penny, you handle whatever that is you and Mercedes have going on and leave me out of it." She said before hanging up.

Sam shook his head, figuring some space would be for the best, which lasted all but two hours before he found himself pulling into her parents driveway.

He was never one to let things linger for too long, he checked his watch before pressing the doorbell. He took a step back when a large man opened the door.

"Ah, I-"

"Maxine, you didn't tell me the boy was white! You here for my daughter, son?"

Sam was not easily intimidated but something about her father made him shift on his feet. "Umm, yes sir. I just wanted to speak with her briefly."

Kenneth frowned. "You did something to upset my baby girl?"

Sam sighed. "I did… unintentionally. I just wanted to apologize for the misunderstanding."

The older man crossed his arms over his chest, his frown growing deeper. "What kind of misunderstanding?"

"As much as I'd like to explain everything to you, I believe I should speak with Mercedes first." Sam answered and Kenneth nodded before stepping aside.

"Mercedes! You have a… visitor." He said loud enough for her to hear him upstairs. He looked Sam over again before hearing Mercedes coming down the stairs.

Mercedes looked at Sam standing there with her father and immediately felt her nerves go on high alert. "Oh… umm daddy… this is umm."

Kenneth looked at her daughter expectantly before shaking his head. "That room door better remain open." He said walking away before stopping. "Better yet, only common areas."

Maxie appeared, grabbing her husband's arm. "Ignore him, it's good to see you again Sam." She said, pulling her husband out of the room.

"What? That's a man… she's just a baby!" Kenneth protested before Maxie smacked his arm. "Ow!"

"She's an adult, Jesus."

Mercedes let out a nervous laugh, hearing her parents before turning her attention to Sam. "Look-"

"I know you saw a woman kiss me and I know that you saw me lead her away, I get that makes me look like a piece of shit but I led her away because I didn't want her trying to get under your skin." He explained.

She just looked at him before shifting. "You didn't push her away…"

"I did. That woman was here because of my father or stevie, I don't know but I do know that I have never nor would I ever cheat on anyone. I don't know how to explain myself because I've never bothered to do that before… but I am trying to now." He responded letting out a deep breath.

"You don't owe my anything, I'm just-"

"Just someone I really care about and it doesn't make any sense to me but I don't want it to… Mercedes, I understand you leaving when you saw that but I've been straight with you from the very beginning and-"

"And you made it abundantly clear that you weren't seeking a relationship that had defined terms, that you wanted to bury your head between my legs. You did that… now what?"

Sam frowned. "I said all of those things but I also said I was your man, did I not? I said we were in a relationship. I get that your ex is the reason you're hesitant but Penny means nothing to me, she is a plague, just like Marley."

Mercedes shifted. "I can't do this… my brother's back and they lost their baby. I have to be here for them…" She said knowing she was making excuses.

He nodded, walking over to her and gently cupping her face. "I respect your decision to end things but don't use your family as a reason. If you're scared then say that but not now. I'll be back in one month, if you still feel the same, you'll let me know before the month is up." He said, leaning down and placing a tender kiss to her lips.

When he pulled away, she just looked at him with watery eyes before taking a step back. "Goodnight Sam."

"Good night Mercedes." He replied before walking out of the house leaving her standing there torn.

The next two chapters will be special chapters centered around their month apart from each other and yes the end is Nye!