DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GLEE BUT THIS STORY I DO!

Darryl Jones: Patrick R. Walker

Enjoy :)

Mercedes groaned out lowly as she slid into her tights, grabbing her hoodie from the bed and exiting out of her room to see what the noise was about. She had ended up spending the night at the gym, too tired to even think about driving home after an event day. Coming down the stairs from the spare room, she spotted the source of the noise, the face turning with a regretful smile.

"I didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't, I was already up." She said as she went over and gave her hug, laying her head on her shoulder, "I've missed you, San."

Santana laughed as she hugged her back, "I've been gone for three days."

"Three days too long."

Santana smiled as she let go, pushing the bag to her chest, "Food. I'm pretty sure you didn't eat last night, especially since you slept here."

"I honestly didn't. I had back to back classes then two training sessions." Mercedes sat down on the stool in front of the desk, grabbing a fork, "Anyways, how was your mini-vacation?"

"Not long enough." She sat down in the chair, crossing her legs and looking at her seriously, "But I honestly can say I feel better."

"I can tell, you're all glowy and shit."

"I see Dad brought somebody in." She commented with a raised brow, a smirk on her face as she opened the hot sauce and changed the subject, "A little walk down memory lane, huh?"

Mercedes rolled her eyes at her, slicing the omelette with her fork as she ignored her. Santana and Mercedes have been best friend since they were in pampers. The girls' families had lived right next door to each other and had been friends for years.

Santana hummed out as she moved from side to side in the rolling chair, lifting her head up when she saw the front door open, jokingly speaking, "Hey blondie, since when do you come to the hood?"

"Funny San."

Mercedes chuckled as she watched her come in, smiling when she leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek before going over and doing the same to Santana.

Quinn grabbed the clipboard, finding her name and writing out beside it, "I forgot to stop by and say what I'm bringing for the potluck."

"Your new boo for one." Santana teased lightly, watching as the woman turned began to turn red, "Word gets around ever faster while I'm away."

"Anyways, I'll talk to you both later. I'm late for work."

"Don't run off." Santana snorted, watching as she left out quickly, turning back to Mercedes, "Have you met her?"

"Mhm, she's a really sweet girl." Mercedes complimented as she looked at her, "They really fit each other." Santana mumbled something, which Mercedes caught, "Santana, you know..."

"I know but still." She glanced down when she heard her phone ringing, seeing that it was her mother, she leaned over and grabbed it.

After she had finished eating, Mercedes had went to turn the lights on in the gym, hearing the door open, she looked down at her watch then back to the door, "Still the first one in I see."

"Always."

"You haven't changed much, Cream Cheese."

Sam tensed up at the old nickname, looking at the girl in front of him with a slight frown.

Mercedes smirked as she turned the rest of the lights on. She walked over to the desk and found the key she was looking for, going over to him, "Here's your locker key. I'm sure you can recall where they're at."

"Not much has changed with you either." He scoffed as he moved passed her and Santana, who had now walked over to where Mercedes was.

"He's such an asshole."

"And you're being one too if we're being honest." Santana pointed out as she went over and started getting the mats out, "This is not going to get any better if you lead with the same attitude he's giving."

Mercedes rolled her eyes at her, knowing that she was right but she couldn't help it. She didn't agree with a lot of Sam's choices, and for him to bring it here just pissed her off. She watched as he came back out a few minutes later, "The training logs are..."

"You know, I don't need your help. I can find my way."

"You're a real piece of work, you know that?"Mercedes glared at him, "I don't know if you've forgotten, but around here, we're a family, we help each other. You're in the wrong place if you expect anything less."

Santana sighed as she got up from where she was, going over to them, "Two for two with pissing each other off in less than forty-eight hours. Y'all both are pushing it. Mercedes, chill out. Sam, the attitude isn't going to get you anywhere, especially round here. You should remember that. Disperse to your respective places and get your shit together."

Sam watched as she walked away, taking a deep breath before putting his earphones in his ear, and heading over to the workout area. This was not how he wanted to start his day at all.

"Left, right. Good job. Make sure to always protect yourself. Very good you guys." Mercedes smiled from her spot on the floor, seeing the parents start to make their way in, "Alright, please remember that there is no class next weekend. The gym will be closed. Alright?"

"Yes, Cedes."

"Good. You guys are dismissed and see you in two weeks." Mercedes wrote some things down in her notebook before getting up.

Henry put the resistance bands in the bucket before going over to her, "How'd it go?"

"Good, they're improving really well." Mercedes stretched as a chuckle escaped passed her lips, "And I have a date with my bed all next weekend, so I'm extremely happy about that."

Henry smiled as he crossed his arms, glancing around the place before his eyes settled a certain person, "How about Sam?"

Mercedes rolled her eyes and pursed lips.

"Something happened?"

"A little clashing, nothing major."

"I see since he's still here." Henry commented as Mercedes scoffed, watching as she turned to him.

"Why did you let him come here?"

"Ask me after his first match." He responded in the same way he did Sam, watching as he made his way over, "How's the spilt schedule working?"

"Good actually. I like the workout sessions in the morning then training in the evening." He started to undo the tape around his hand. He had to admit that his day has been a lot more productive than it have been in awhile.

"He trained with Gill, by the way." Mercedes gave a sarcastic smile, prompting Sam to stop what he was doing.

"Listen, I apologize for the rudeness yesterday and this morning. I've had the shittiest couple of weeks and misplaced my anger."

"No offense taken...especially since I'm a prodigy, just remember my feelings don't get hurt easily." She started as she looked at him pointedly, waiting expectantly, "You are a good fighter, I'll give you that. Even though you win, you're still sloppy, inconsistent and arrogant as hell."

Henry had to agree, but he also had to admit that Mercedes was definitely coming harder than she usually does. He opened his mouth to say something but she beat him to the punch.

"Come in with a better attitude tomorrow afternoon and things will go a lot smoother." Mercedes started to walk passed him, stopping and turning before completely leaving out, "I'm not your enemy, remember that Cream Cheese."

Sam glanced over at Henry, who was looking back at him knowingly, "I don't miss that."

Henry chuckled as he shook his head, patting his shoulder as he walked back, "Welcome back."

Thirteen years ago...

"I'm confused." Twelve year old Mercedes said as the men in the ring come to a stop, watching as one of them, who was her cousin Darryl, come to the ropes and looked down at her.

"On which part, Merce?"

"The hits."

"A back fist is what I just showed you earlier with KC, then this one is a spinning back fist. The difference in this one that the previous is that..."

"I got it." She called out as she wrote down in her notebook, where she kept all her notes that she took while learning the sport.

Darryl smiled at her before pushing back off the ropes and continuing on with the practice.

Mercedes looked up from her writing when she heard the door open, seeing the fourteen year old boy come in, curiously watching as he went over to her father.

Henry had just finished getting his things together so he could start training Link for his fight next week when he saw the teen approach him, "You must be Sam?"

Sam nodded his head as he adjusted the duffle bag on his shoulder.

"Mr. Atkins told me all about you." Henry responded with a welcoming smile as he turned around, spotting who he was looking for before calling out, "Mercedes, come here."

Mercedes got up from her seat, sitting her book down as she walked over to where they were, the boy's tall frame towering over her short one.

"This is Sam and he's going to be joining us here for classes. I want you to show him where he can put his things."

"Okay." She said as she looked at him, "Follow me."

Sam followed behind the girl as he walked through the gym, feeling eyes on him as he did so. They knew, which didn't bother him at all. He really didn't know if he wanted to do this at all, not seeing a point but he would give it a try just for Mr. Atkins. He watched as they entered the back, coming up to the locker that was up front.

"If you need anything, just let me know." Mercedes watched him nod, giving him the key, prompting her to turn to leave before stopping, feeling the need to say something else, "Whatever you're going through, it's going to be okay. You have us now."

Sam watched as she turned around and left out without another word, sighing as he turned back and sat his bag down. Maybe this was a start of becoming a better version of himself.

A/N. We liking it so far? Somebody said this story is giving Southpaw vibes and I can see it!