DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GLEE NOR ANYTHING BUT THIS STORY I DO!

Henry Jones- Russell Hornsby

Ruby Grace Jones- Michelle Hurd

Gill Herrington- Beau Knapp

Sam stared down at the items laying in front of him on the table. Three positive pregnancy test and a confirmation for a doctor. She wasn't lying. He hoped to God she was but she wasn't, "How far?" Was all he could muster to get out, raising his eyes to look at the woman, who was now sitting so calmly after just showing out a few hours earlier.

"Two months." She responded as she sipped from the cup of hot tea, crossing her legs as she stared at him, "I can't wait until we see what we're having. I'm so exited. This will be good for us."

Two months. He remembered the night the conception happened. They had got into an argument when they came back from one of her friends engagement parties. She had put him on spot, stating that she didn't understand what the hold up was with him proposing. He was drunk and mad, and what was the best way in his eyes to shut her up and make up in the moment? Sex. Angry sex. No, not love making, just sex.

"I was also thinking that this gives us a perfect reason to buy a bigger house out of this shit city."

Sam scoffed as he let out an unfunny, deep laughter, standing up from the couch. He walked passed her and to the kitchen, heading straight for the liquor cabinet.

"Sam, look." She rises from the chair and went to where he was, seeing that it was eight o'clock in the morning and he was pouring himself a glass of Whiskey, "We need to work this out between us. I refuse to raise a baby in a broken home like you was."

"Wow." He shook his head in disbelief, but he shouldn't be surprised. He drink the drink quickly before pouring himself another glass, "You knew I didn't want this."

"That's your fault. You should've been more responsible." She patted his shoulder before moving pass him, smiling, "I can't wait to tell our family and friends. This is so exciting."

Sam watched as she walked away. There was no way he was going to be able to do this. No way.

Ruby sung out lowly as she moved around her kitchen, turning the water off once she washed the vegetables that she pulled from her garden earlier. She was so pleased that all of her vegetables had came out right this year. It wasn't an easy process getting them to act right, but this year was the year she succeeded.

Darling you send me

I know you send me

Darling you send me

Mercedes walked in the home, hearing the music and sound of the woman singing. She followed the her voice. She smiled once she stopped at the entrance, leaning against the threshold to listen and watch her. Ruby and her father had married five years ago, but the two have known each other since grade school.

You thrill me

I know you, you, you thrill me

Darling you, you, you, you thrill me

Honest you do

Ruby turned and jumped when she saw the girl standing at the door, placing her hand to her chest, "Jesus, Mercedes."

Mercedes pushed off the door as she went over to her, "Sorry."

"You trying to send me to an early grave huh?" She remarked as she gave the younger woman a hug.

"It smells good in here." Mercedes complimented once she let go of the woman, going over to take a peek in the pots, "What are you making?"

"I'm trying something new."

"Like always."

"Like always." She repeated as she bumped hips with her as she handed her a spoon, "Tomato Tortellini Soup."

Mercedes scooped up a little of the sauce, blowing it before placing it in her mouth. She nodded in appreciation, looking at the older woman, "Just a little bit more..."

"Go ahead." She cut her off, sending her a wink, "I want it to be hittin', as you kid say today."

Mercedes snorted as she grabbed the pepper and shook some in the tomato based sauce before grabbing a spice to put in there. One thing that not many knew was that she loved to cook. When Ruby came into their lives, the older woman wanted to teach her everything she knew. That's how the bond was created between the two. Not that it was hard because the woman was polar opposite of her mother. Ruby was kind, patient, understanding and loving. She loved that about her. She just loved her period.

The comfortable silence loomed in between them the next couple of minutes as nothing but the sounds of bubbling sauce and the knife hitting the cutting board was heard. Ruby was cutting the celery as she glanced over to the side of her, "How are you really, love?"

"Honestly, I'm a bit lost." She responded as she picked up the spoon and stirred, "On one hand, I feel like I have something to prove and on my other, I just want to let all of this go."

"Boxing all together?"

"Yeah."

Ruby looked at her, but this time holding the stare. It was rare that Mercedes had both a soft-toned and defeated sound in her voice, so she knew something was truly up, "You want to know what I think?"

"Yes."

"It may sound cliche but I think you should follow your heart." Ruby gave her a smile as she leaned over and moved her hair back off her shoulder, "You love that sport too much to leave it completely. Personally, I feel that you can benefit more outside of that ring. You're already an established and very rare cutwoman, who happens to be a trainer too, continue with that. Just stay away from that underground mess."

Mercedes gave her a half-smile at the advice, looking over at the clock and seeing that her father should be home soon, "I should get going."

"Already? You just got here. You don't want to stay for dinner?"

"No, I have a date with my bed. Besides, I don't think your husband wants to see me anytime soon."

Ruby wiped her hands with a towel before throwing it over her shoulder, leaning against the counter to look at her, "He's mad because he loves you, Mercedes. He doesn't want to see you put yourself in unnecessary danger. You're his baby girl. You know that, you're just stubborn."

Mercedes rolled her eyes before going over and hugging her, kissing her cheek before leaving out the kitchen and house. She knew she was right, but at this point, she just wanted to stay away from the rapture, that was her father, for awhile and serve her suspension.

Mercedes did absolutely nothing for the rest of her week. She laid in bed, watched Netflix, ate and slept all day. She honesty didn't mind it, but she missed working. Luckily, she was able to start back, but unfortunately, she had to run the place as well because her Dad was sick again. So between doing new training logs, checking in on everyone, ordering and classes, she was tired when it came to her evening training with Sam. She sipped from her water bottle as she sat down on the bench, scrolling through the news on the app while she waited for him. He was an hour late and that was unlike him. She tried calling his phone and texting him, but he didn't respond. Lifting her head up when she heard the door open, she watched the man of her thoughts come through the door with a blank, angry expression plastered on, "You're late."

Sam didn't even respond as he headed straight to the back to put his things up in his pocket.

Mercedes watched him in question when he came back, snatching up the tape from the table and wrapping it around his hands, "Who pissed in your Cheerios?"

"Remember when my girlfriend showed up at the diner?" He watched as she nodded before he cracked his knuckles then his neck, moving in front of the punching bag, "She told me she's pregnant."

"Wow." Mercedes sat cross legged as he begun to punch the bag repeatedly, "Congrats?" She moved to the side when he hit the bag so hard, forcing it to come in her direction, mumbling, "Or not."

"I made it clear that I didn't want kids because I didn't want to turn out like mine did."

"Sam, you're nothing like him."

"I know but I just...I don't want kids and she knew that." He was about to continue but he stop when he heard her name being called. Glancing behind him, he saw the man coming in, recognizing him instantly. He glanced down when Mercedes got up and went over to him, the two exchanging words for a moment before the man grabbed her hand and placed the envelope in her palm before giving her shoulder a squeeze and walking out.

Mercedes moved the envelope to her bag once she came back, closing it up before turning back to Sam, "Alright, let's finally get started."

"No."

Mercedes looked at him questionably, raising a brow, "No?"

"What was that?" Sam asked her, watching as she opened her mouth, his hand up went up when he noticed something for the first time, "Why is your lip busted?"

Mercedes stared at him confused, her hand going to her mouth, "It's not. I had a fever blister."

Sam grabbed her face in his hand when she tried to turn away, keeping a tight but non hurtful grip on it as he leaned forward and zeroed in the spot, "Not the fuck you didn't."

"What the hell..." Mercedes was confused on the turn of his events and why he was acting like this, "Let go of my face."

"Are you still going underground?" He ignored her demand, the interaction not going unnoticed by everyone in the gym but they knew better than to get between those two, "Merce, I swear to..."

"Get your damn hands off of me, Sam. I'm not playing." She struggled against his hold and pushed him out of the way, "I'm not your concern."

Sam watched as she walked off from him, "You haven't learned your lesson yet?"

"Fuck you, Sam." She said as she moved passed Gill, who was looking between the two confusedly.

This was Sam's third fight of the year, and his first one back with the Jones'. Mercedes stood in front of him, placing the petroleum jelly on his face. They haven't said a word to each other in days, Gill taking over the training. She didn't like how he came for her and quite frankly, she was over him, but her anger didn't stop her for doing her job. Hearing the the bell ring, she moved back between the ropes as he stood, giving him a reminder as he went out, "Always remember to never put your head down." If he was listening, she wouldn't know.

The first three rounds were solid. You can see the changes that Sam has made. He was more discipline, sharp and attentive with his hits and his game plan. It was the end of the fourth round when he let himself get too loose and his opponent took the chance to hit him twice in his face, causing him to go down just as the bell rung.

Mercedes came and squatted down in front of him when he made it back to his corner, leaning him back as blood started to pour from his nose and then his eyebrow. She quickly attended to his wounds, aware of his eyes rolling back close, "Sam, are you with me?"

"Mhm."

Mercedes snapped her fingers in his face, "Sam."

"Yeah."

Mercedes grabbed her light form her pocket, turning it on and flashing it across her eyes, looking back at Gill, "He's disoriented. We need to call it."

Gill nodded his head in agreement, "I think so too."

Sam closed his eyes then open them back up, taking out his mouth guard before grabbing the water bottle and getting some water, "I'm fine."

Mercedes glared as she looked down at him, "No you're not and I'm not letting you go back out there."

"Evans."

"I'm going, it's my decision." He said finally as he stood up, moving past her and making his way back to the middle of the ring.

Mercedes blew a breath as she snatched off her gloves, getting down once she got out the ring, she looked at Gill before walking away, "I'm done."

"What the hell...come back Mercedes." Gill called after her, watching as she waved him off before really leaving. He sighed as his eyes went back to the match. What the hell was going on between these two?

After winning yet another fight, Sam couldn't even focus on the win because his mind was so jumbled up at the moment. Between his personal life and this argument with Mercedes, he was tired and frustrated, but more pissed then anything. Declining to speak after his win, he got out the ring and headed to the back. He found her sitting in a chair in the hallway, indicating that she didn't leave the match all together. He didn't understand how things got to this point like they always did with them, "I was fine."

"No you wasn't and it wasn't your call, it's mine. I don't care if we are pissed at each other for whatever reason but when it comes to our jobs, that's just background noise. You could've died and guess who that would've been on? Me. Not you. Me." She picked up her bag and got up from the chair, eyes going to his briefly, "Congratulations, but don't worry, you'll have a new cutman your next fight because I refuse to be apart your instability."

For the third time this week, he watched as she walked out on him, prompting him to shake his head and head into the room to grab his stuff in frustration.

Mercedes sat her father's desk, paying some of the bills. She had came early so she could get some things taken care. Since her father was still sick, she has been trying her best to keep things afloat but she was indeed stressing. Not to mention for the first time in her career, she had willingly walked away. Despite how pissed she was, she knew better and she should've took her emotions out of it and did her job. She left Sam in a vulnerable and dangerous position when she left. She fucked up. There was no ifs, ands or buts about it. She just did. But, that didn't change the fact that she meant what she said.

Sam had founded her upstairs, not liking how things were left between them last night, he needed to talk to her, "Can we talk?"

"We have nothing to talk about." She responded without looking up, continuing on with what she was going.

"You're so goddamn stubborn."

Mercedes had to laugh as she finally raised her eyes to look at him, "That's rich coming from you."

"Mercedes, we need to order more..." Gill stopped when he saw the two, knowing damn well that this couldn't be good, "Gloves."

Mercedes decided to continue with her conversation as she stared at Sam, "Until Dad comes back, Gill is going to be taking over your training. Nino will be your new cut man."

Sam let out a laugh as he stared back at her with devious eyes, "I bet you love your decision, huh? Now you have more time to focus on preparing for you next underground fight."

Gill head turned to Mercedes in shock, "You're still doing underground?"

"Out." Mercedes directed her words to Gill, watching as the man did what she said, her eyes turning into slits as she stared at Sam, "Let's get one thing straight. Whatever the fuck I do with my life is none of your concern. For the record, I didn't go back to fight. I had a bonus from the last one I did. I declined the money but they insisted on brining it to me. Just stay in your lane and I sure as hell will stay in mine."

"Not a problem." He said as he tore his eyes away from her and walked out the office.

Mercedes plopped down in the chair, running her hands over her face just as she heard her phone ringing. Picking it up, she answered without looking at the screen, "What?"

"I was calling to see if you were still coming. Poppy was asking for you but by the fucked up mood you're clearly in, I'd rather you not bring it here."

Mercedes cursed underneath breath as she stood up, mad that she lost track of time of this day because of that asshole, "I'm on my way."

A/N. These two make my head hurt. I forgot to add Henry's FC in earlier chapters, so there you go. Let me know your thoughts!