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

Valerie Jones- Karen Pittman

"Are you just going to stare or are you going to speak to your mother?"

Mercedes couldn't believe that she was even standing there in front of them. She couldn't tell you the last time she has seen or talked to her, so the fact that she was standing right here was so mind boggling, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm in town for a fitting. Wedding dress actually." She said as she held out her left hand to her, the huge diamond glistening in their face, "I'm getting married. His name is Greg. We've been together for two years." Sam watched as she took it upon herself to take a seat, "He's a stock broker. He proposed on our trip to Anguilla a couple of months ago. I figured you would be here, seeing that you loved this crappy diner since you were a kid.

"Why are you looking for me in the first place?"

"I want to extend an olive branch." Valerie spoke as she looked at her daughter seriously, "I want you to come."

Mercedes laughed comically as she stared at her in disbelief, "So, you don't talk to me for God knows how long and expect me to come watch you get married to someone I don't even know?"

"I figured you would make this difficult when it really don't need to be. We need a clean start and I want that. For months, I've been in a great space, such a great space that I have forgiven you for everything you've put me through."

"Everything I've put you through?" Mercedes couldn't believe the words that were coming out of her mouth. How dare she make it seemed like everything was her fault. She gently pushed Sam's shoulder so he slide out of the booth, "You act like everything is my fault when it's the other way around."

"In actuality, it's your father's." Valerie stated matter of factly, "You get pregnant when you're a teenager and you almost get killed from boxing. All of this was under his watch."

"My choices aren't his fault." She glared at her, "He did the best he could with raising me during that time since his wife up and left for whatever reason."

"I left because I couldn't stand to see my daughter headed down a destructive path. That's why I left and look at what happened?"

Mercedes just shook her head before turning away and heading for the door with Sam right on her heels. As if this week couldn't get any worse, this mess happens.

"Did Henry tell you about the barbecue?"

"Last minute of course." She commented as she pulled a knife from the holder, "After I finish dinner, I'm going to get that together."

Sam was sitting on the barstool as he watched the woman move around the kitchen, the sounds of the Blues playing lowly in the background. He had stopped by to drop some things off from the gym and had got caught in a conversation with Ruby, who had talked him into staying for dinner. The two of them had been getting to know each other a lot since he has been back. He easily saw how Mercedes was so close with the older woman. She had such a genuine, kind and loving spirit, reminded him a lot of his own mother. Quite opposite of Valerie, of course. The run in that they had yesterday had been on his mind and he know it was the same with Mercedes, no matter how much she denied it.

"Ruby?"

"Mhm."

"You'll be the first one to know that Mercedes and I are together...as in dating."

Ruby snorted as she covered the sauce with the lid, eyes and eyebrow raising at him, "And I'm supposed to be shocked?"

Sam laughed a bit as he leaned back against the cabinets, "I guess not."

"Absolutely not." She admitted as she crossed her arms over her chest. Her husband and step-daughter had filled her in on the history of Sam Evans. With knowing that and seeing them in present time, she knew that there had to be more going on, "I say this in nothing but love and care for you both. Take things slow. I know there's history, but both of you have been through a lot and I want you two to heal completely, individually and together."

Sam didn't take it any other way but her being truly sincere and looking out for them and she was right. They needed to take their time for self and each other, "Did you know her mom's in town?"

"I've heard."

"She invited Mercedes to her wedding." Sam watched as the woman turned to him in shock, "I wouldn't be surprised if she had an ulterior motive."

"She's a wicked woman, Sam. I've never met anyone like her, so I wouldn't put it passed her." She stared at him seriously, "Just be there for Mercedes. She doesn't like to acknowledge it, but Valerie takes a toll on her and leads her to be in this type of depression funk. On top of everything else that's going on, she's bound to shut and break down soon."

Sam nodded his head solemnly, already seeing the effect it was taking on her. His eyes wandered to the door when he heard her voice, sending her a small smile when she looked at him in shock.

"What are you doing here?"

"I had to drop something off but Ruby convinced me to stay for dinner."

Mercedes walked in and went to where he was standing, "Well, I'm glad you're here."

Sam smiled down at her, "I'm glad that you're glad I'm here."

Mercedes chuckled, eyes going over to Ruby's, who was giving them both a knowing look, "And I guess he told you."

Ruby snorted, "You two make things so obvious, it's not hard to figure out. I'm just surprised it took that long."

Sam glanced over at Mercedes, who was looking back at him, "She was being stubborn and dishonest."

"Aren't you the kettle calling the pot black."

Ruby laughed at them both, hearing the house phone ring, she turned the aisle down low and went into the other room.

When she was out of sight, Sam bent down and kissed her gently on her lips, earning a smile in return.

"What was that for?"

"Just because."

Mercedes continued to smile as she wrapped her arms around his waist, laying her head down on his chest, "It was needed."

The next day, the Jones' gym was packed with something that wasn't out of the ordinary and that was the delicious smell of barbecue flowing throughout the gym, and apparently that whole street. Henry had wanted to do something special for everyone and give them a well deserved break. So, he had given them the day off and told them to invite their families. He had cooked on the grill and a lot of local food joints that knew him donated some extra sides and desserts. It was just a time to relax and have a good time.

Mercedes tilted her head to the side as she watched Sam in pure amusement, tucking her lips in her mouth as she shook her head to keep her laughter in.

"Ruby did her thing. Yes she did." Sam commented as he licked the spoon, leaving no evidence of the delicious banana pudding, "This was so good."

Mercedes chuckled at him as she picked up her cup, "I'm sure glad she made three pans."

Sam pursed his lips as he threw his bowl in the trash, "What you trying to say?"

"Nothing, Cream Cheese. Nothing at all." She giggled as she placed her hand on the door handle, "Come on, I have something special to give you too."

"A one way ticket to your bed? That's the only thing that can top this." He asked, waggling his brows, snorting when she hit him in his chest before opening the door.

Mercedes shook her head humorously as she walked, coming to a stop when she heard the raised voice of her father, putting eyes on the reasoning for it. There standing toe to toe with him was her mother.

Valerie looked behind him and Ruby to Mercedes, "So you are here? I was told you wasn't."

"For good enough reason." Henry commented as he glared at the woman, his daughter coming to stand beside him, "Why are you here?"

"I'm sure you've heard, I'm getting remarried. This time to the man of my dreams." She smirked before looking at Mercedes, "The invitation still stands. Like I said, I'm forgiving, so I forgive you for disrespecting me yesterday."

Ruby rolled her eyes, "I highly doubt Mercedes was in the wrong for whatever happened."

"Who asked you anything?"

"Watch yourself, Valerie." Henry stepped in, "You need to leave."

"No, I'm tired of this. I'm not the bad guy. While she's acting like mother Theresa and goody two-shoes, do you even know the truth about her past, Mercedes?" Valerie stated as she glared at the woman, "I'm sure you didn't let your step-daughter know who you really are, huh? Didn't want her to think so poorly of you."

Valerie stared at her in disgust, shaking her head to open her mouth but Mercedes had beat her to the punch.

"That's she a recovering drug addict? That she has been clean for ten years now? Oh and her kids that were taken away from her? They are the same ones who makes a three hour drive to see her every weekend they can and call her everyday, vice versa. Yeah, I do know because unlike you, she talks to me and we actually have a relationship. It's sad to say, but it's really not to be honest because it worked out for me, she's more than a mother than you ever was."

Sam grabbed ahold of Valerie's wrist when he saw her hand raising and headed towards Mercedes' face, glaring at the older woman, "Don't you dare."

Valerie snatched her hand from his grasp, eyes in slits, "Still don't know how to mind your business."

"When you attempt to hurt my girlfriend, that shit is my business."

Valerie scoffed as she stepped back, only to be met with the wrath of her ex-husband.

"You have a lot of nerve coming in here raising your hand at my daughter and disrespecting my wife." Henry told her angrily, "Get the hell out of here before I called the cops."

"Fine." Her eyes went to her Mercedes, pointing to her, "But make no mistake, my fucking blood runs through your veins. I'm your mother, not her.

"It takes more than giving birth to be a mother."

"Guess you're more like me than you want to admit." Those were her final words towards her daughter before she left out the gym.

Mercedes wiped the frustrated tears from her face before she turned around and headed to the back.

Sam looked at her then back at Henry and Valerie, "I'll go."

Valerie watched as he followed behind her before her own eyes settled on her husband, who was giving her a sympathetic look, "I'm fine."

"You didn't deserve that and I should've spoken up so..."

"Henry, you did what you needed to do." She reassured him as she grabbed ahold of his hands, "I want you to stop beating yourself up so much. You are the most amazing husband and father. I always say that because it's nothing but the truth."

Henry gave her a sad smile before he wrapped his arms around her, pressing a kiss to the side of her head and just held her. It was times he did questioned himself. He hated that he did, but the reassurance and genuine love from the women in his life did make him feel better.

A couple of hours later, Mercedes followed behind Sam into his condo, her mother's lasting words lingering around in her head. She was drained, mentally and emotionally. Not only because of her, but everything else that had been taking place in her life lately.

Sam watched her for a moment before he shuffled through the mail in his hands as he started to make him way over to where she was, only to stop in his tracks.

Mercedes plopped down on his couch, grunting lowly as she laid her head back against the cushion. A few moments of silence passed by and she sat up, turning around and finding Sam where she left him. She saw him now holding onto one piece of mail in his hands and just staring at it, "You okay?"

"The paternity results are here." He responded absently as he opened the envelope, taking out the paper then unfolding it but stopped to look at her, "I still need to know your answer."

"As a friend, yes but as a girlfriend, no." She responded almost immediately as she stared at him seriously, "I couldn't take part because of the guilt I would feel. I didn't even raise my own daughter, how would it be fair to her if I helped you raised your child?"

"And I respect your honesty." He stated truthfully as he looked down and read the results over and over again to make sure he read it correctly, his eyes finally leaving the paper and settling on the woman in front of him.

"What does it say?"

Sam opened his mouth to respond, only to stop when he heard the beating on the door to his condo. He walked over to the door, looking out the peephole before unlocking the lock, swinging the door open to reveal the person behind it, "What are you doing here?"

A/N. Another cliffy! What do y'all think? Is Sam the father? Who's at the door? Hm, so many questions!