A/N: OKAY... Stacey is going to make your day! That's it bye enjoy!


Sam

Sam woke up feeling the sun on his bare skin and ran his hands where he expected to be but felt cold sheets instead. He shot up when he heard the crinkling of paper and he didn't even look at the paper, he grabbed some shorts and ran out of the room. He shouted her name as he ran down stairs, he went into the living room first and didn't see her there, he quickly ran from room to room before being stopped by his father.

"Son what's gotten you all riled up?" Dwight said having to tighten his grip on his son's arm.

"I think she's gone, Pops! She wasn't in bed this morning… there was just-" He said before breaking free and running back upstairs to his room. He reached his bed in seconds and grabbed the papers off his bed then ran back downstairs where his father was waiting. He quickly flipped the papers over and read the first one shaking his head.

"FUCK! She… she quit! She's gone. She… just left." Sam said letting the other letters fall out of his hands. He plopped down on the couch and buried his head into his hands. Dwight grabbed the other two letters and walked over to his son. He sat next to him and gave him a moment before speaking.

"Sam, I know this is difficult but you should probably read what she wrote first before jumping to conclusions. She might have a good reason why she did what she did." He said sliding the notes into crease of his sons arm.

"She just left without saying a damn word. She didn't even give me a chance to try and fix it! She just left without saying goodbye." Sam said lowly and looking at his dad with weary eyes.

"Read what she said first then we can talk okay." Dwight said standing and starting to walk away.

"SHE LEFT WITHOUT SAYING GOODBYE! I LOVE HER AND SHE DIDN'T GIVE ME A CHANCE! SHE JUST LEFT…" Sam stood up shouting as Stevie walked in with wide eyes as he heard his brother yelling.

"Samuel Evans." His father said shaking his head and grabbing hold of his son's shoulders. He gently shook his son so he would look at him. He could see the hurt but it was misguided and he needed to set him straight before he lost out of real love.

"You need to let her go." Dwight said finally and trying not to let those words hurt but he knew what this was really about.

"I just got her and you want me to let her go?"

"This reaction isn't about Mercedes, you're going to go after her and you know it. This is about your mother and this whole situation surrounding Mercedes has brought up everything you keep masking."

"This has nothing to do with her… she had a choice and she left." Sam said yanking away from his father.

"She did not have a choice!" Stacey said causing them all to turn around.

"You think she wanted to leave? If she had a choice she wouldn't have this shit happening again. Yeah, I know all about her past because she trusted me and she left you a note because she loves you. Mercedes did this to protect you and you're over here using mom's death and her dying as a reason to get mad and not go after her." Stacey said moving closer to her brother.

"This has NOTHING to do with mom!" Sam said moving away from his sister but stopped when he bumped into his brother.

"It has everything to do with mom. You haven't been here in years and you haven't smiled this much in years. You know it's been bugging you how we all know things about Mercy that you're just now finding out. Let me break it down for you, when mom died Mercedes called us everyday after the funeral to make sure we were holding up okay. She called dad and talked to him for hours so he didn't feel alone, she would Skype with me when I would be down and help me feel better. She would text and email Stevie funny stuff to keep his mood high. You weren't the only one who lost her Sam did you know mom used to talk to Mercy for hours about you? When she got sick again and you stopped answering our calls Mercedes was our line to you. You will read what she wrote and you will go after her because that stupid bitch still planned on releasing the video of the two of you… together." Stacey said rubbing her hand before tossing over the flash drive with Jane handing over the laptop as well.

Early Morning

Knock! Knock!

"Who would be here this early?"

Knock! Knock!

"Coming!" Rachel said as she walked a little faster to the door to open it, she had a feeling it would be another reporter wanting more information but she had gotten what she needed and even though she said she wouldn't release the video she still had plans to do it… just at a later time. When she opened the door her eyes went wide but she quickly regain herself and gave a sweet smile.

"Well, good morning. What do I owe this honor?" Rachel asked.

"Cut the shit bitch, we're here to have a little girl chat." Stacey said harshly and pushed Rachel aside so she and Jane could enter. She quickly closed the door and followed behind them until they reached her living room and they both sat down. Rachel stood looking at both of the women with concerned eyes, she knew if she played things right she could easily manipulate them into believing whatever she said so she smiled and sat across from them waiting to see who would speak first.

"So…" Rachel said after a few moments of intense stares. Stacey stood up and threw the pictures she had taken from the envelope at her.

"Explain." Rachel looked down at the images and had to stop the smile that was threatening to creep onto her face. She had to give it to herself she took some amazing shots of Sam and that thing having sex.

"Oh my goodness… who… you don't think I did this do you?" She asked sounding innocent and shocked. She looked at Stacey and saw her facial expression remained the same, unconvinced she looked over at Jane and saw the same expression. SHIT! They haven't accused me yet so maybe there still uncertain. I can do this!

"Really Rachel? Going to try that tired innocent shit on me? You're forgetting that I know how you work. Why did you do this? Why did you do this to them?"

"I didn't! I would never hurt Sam and I know how important his image is to him. Why on earth would I ruin it for him? How do you know that she didn't hire someone to take these to blackmail him?" She countered not letting her voice raise and adding a little shake to hers to sound hurt by her words.

"Bull shit you fucking crazy bitch! Look I don't you like they do but I know shit when I see it! Now you blackmailed her to leave and she did. What's the endgame? I can smell some more bull brewing and before we leave you will tell us everything, you will give over everything you have and then you will leave." Jane said giving Rachel the scariest look she's ever received in her life. Okay, I'm gonna have to play dirty then. An unnerving smile crossed Rachel's lips as she threw the pictures down on her coffee table. She sat up straight crossing her legs at the knee and laughed lightly.

"I don't have to tell you anything because you have no proof of me doing anything." She said fluttering her eyelashes innocently at the women. She saw their expressions change from mean to shocked and couldn't help smiling bigger. I got you bitches in the palm of my hands.

"Jane… do you mind giving me and Rachel some time alone?" Stacey asked trying to remain calm. Jane nodded and shot Rachel another death glare before leaving. Once Jane was out of sight and earshot Stacey yanked Rachel from where she was sitting smugly.

"Listen to me and listen well, you are going to tell me everything and give me everything you have! If not I am going to beat the hell out of you. You can pick the easy way or make my day and make it hard for me." Stacey said backing Rachel into the wall.

"If you lay one finger on me I will-"

SLAP!

"Stacey I will press charges if you don't-" Was all Rachel was able to get out before the Stacey's hand made contact with her face again only this time she didn't slap her she punched her hard twice and was getting ready to throw a few more punch when Rachel put her hands begging her to stop.

"I have a video on my computer and a copy of it on a flash drive that I was going to send later this afternoon. She texted me late last night saying that she left and to just leave Sam alone, but I wanted to make sure she never came back so I contacted a news company and anonymously let it be know there was a video of the two of them as well." Rachel said through sobs and hoping Stacey believe her.

"Give me everything you have NOW!" Rachel nodded and scurried along to grab her laptop, the flash drive and the other pictures she had, when she returned she gave them all to Stacey without hesitating. Stacey gave her a look before grabbing her phone and texting Jane to come back inside so she could take the items with her.

"Is this all of it?" Jane asked Rachel.

"Yes, I don't have anything else it's all there." Rachel replied trying to catch the blood coming from her nose.

"Good. Now that Stacey's done her part I guess I should let you in on a little secret. My name is Jane Hayward, name ring a bell?"

"Hayyyward… as in Judge Hayward?" Rachel stuttered and her eyes became really big.

"Yep, that's my daddy and my mother just so happens to be the ADA so… you'll be having a few more visitors later for trespassing, breaking and entering as well as blackmailing." Jane said high fiving Stacey.

"Wwwhat? I never broke into anywhere and I never trespassed! If you charge me then you'll have to charge everyone else." Rachel said trying to weave her way out of everything.

"No honey, it's not considered trespassing if you own it and being that you were and uninvited party you not only trespassed you were breaking and entering because the gate was closed." Stacey said moving closer to the brunette who stood there stunned.

"You messed with the wrong woman when you went after Mercedes. She is our family and you don't fuck with our family and get away with it." Stacey's continued and followed it with a swift backhand. Then they both left and waited until the sheriffs arrived, Jane waved one of them over and told them they had the proof and would follow them to the precinct but would need everything back the same day. Stacey wanted to give Mercedes the honor of deleting the footage but knew that was going to be hard because she didn't know where she was…

"You knew?" Sam asked looking at his sister confused.

"I didn't know she was going to leave but I saw her leaving… I woke up and saw the a light shine in my window. I looked and she was getting into a cab. I didn't have enough time to stop her or I would have but that's not the point, we have everything now you just have to go find her." Stacey said looking at Sam with encouraging eyes.

"She hasn't left the state if that helps..." Jane said and everyone looked at her wide eyed except for Stacey.

"I thought you weren't allowed to use your parent's connections for personal reasons." Stevie said to his girlfriend.

"No I can't use them to find out where Beyonce is for my obsessed boyfriend but for this I was able to check and see if she chartered any flights or used any modes of transportation that needed her ID." Jane said smacking Stevie across the head.

"So she's still here in Kentucky?" Sam asked feeling hopeful for the first time since he woken up alone. Dwight let out a chuckle and began walking away making his children and Jane share concerned glances.

"Pop where are you going and what's so funny?"

"Read the letters son." That was all Dwight said as he headed to his favorite place for some quiet.

"He's getting a little cryptic with age… think he's turning into Dumbledore?" Stevie asked with a straight face that quickly turned innocent when everyone around began to laugh. Jane shook her head and kissed him before she and Stacey pulled him out of the living room to give Sam some space to read whatever Mercedes had written him. Sam sat down on the couch and took a deep breath and grabbed the first note that had his name written in his mother's handwriting.

Sammy,

My sweet baby boy, I know this is hard for you and I'm sorry it has come to this but there's a few things I want you to know. A little last minute mommy and Sammy advice… deal? I love you dearly, you captured my heart the second you open those beautiful eyes at me and smiled. You held my gaze for as long as you could before finally looking over at your father and acknowledging I had some help in getting you here. (Ha) You were my only child for so long and it was the best years as a mother I've ever experienced… don't tell the runts I said that. Before we had Stevie and Stacey, your father and I had fell on hard times and you of course was far to young to even remember but we lost just about everything.

Your father and I would take you with us to job interviews and alternate who would keep you while we drove around. One day after your father's luck finally kicked in and he got a job offer in Kentucky we packed up everything our little car could carry and drove straight out there. We had to get a house, get you into daycare so I could work and prepare for two more mouths to feed. Your father insisted on buying the land our home now resides on much to my disapproval but he had a plan and you know how your father is once he's got something set in his mind. (You inherited that trait from him ha) we lived in a paced one bedroom apartment for months while your father had our house built and the second it was completed he moved us into it and promised we'd never go through that again and we never did.

Do you remember when you were ten and I wanted to take you exploring? We went to so many different places, we drove around for hours and hours until you saw something that caught your eyes? Meadows of Happy is what you called it haha… do you remember Sammy? If you do and if you ever need me I want you to go there because that was our special place and I'll always be there waiting for you. I know you won't read this right away and I know it'll probably take something major for you to even accept this letter from me but I want you to promise me this… when you finally do read it remember who gave it to you. I may be an over zealous mother but I have a feeling you know exactly who I'm talking about… she's fragile but also very strong and she's exactly who you need in your life. Your father will finish the rest for me… you tell that old fool I said he better not try to join me anytime soon or I'm going to kick his ass until he goes back.

I love you baby,

-Mom

Sam stared at his mother's letter for a few moments allowing his unshed tears to fall. He didn't know about their parents hardship but he remembered always having something to do and that they were always on the go. He loved just driving around with his parents and he remembered the place she spoke of fondly. He got up a walked to where he knew his dad would be and smiled when he saw him sitting by the fountain looking peaceful as ever.

"What did she say?" Dwight asked not looking at his son.

"She said that she would kick your ass if you tried to join her anytime soon." Sam replied with a chuckle sitting down next to his father.

"She waited as long as she could for you, you know?"

"I was selfish and I wasn't ready to say goodbye so I thought if I stayed away she would stay…"

"She was never meant to be here forever son. She was on borrowed time just like we all are and all she wanted was for you to be happy all of you." Dwight said sighing deeply before continuing.

"Your mother wanted me to tell you two things and I've waited this long to finally tell but I think she knew what she was doing when she sent that letter to Mercy instead of you. Mary wanted you to know that you need to stop and take a minute to realize what's around you and what's right in front of you. You have been going since you were a small child and when you were sent to the hospital because of exhaustion I thought I was going to lose you… I know her dying was hard but you still had me, Stevie and Stacey. Hell you had Mercedes too but I could you hadn't noticed that… not really." Dwight said giving his son a chance to digest what he just said until Sam nodded he finished.

"She also wanted you to know that no matter how dark everything seems now, there's always some sunlight near. Now my job is to ask you this: where is your sunlight son? Because we both know it ain't here with me or on the road with screaming fans." He said getting up and walking back inside. Sam couldn't remember where he heard that question before but he remembered being asked it.

"Pop?"

"Yeah?"

"How long did she know?" Dwight chuckled and shook his head.

"She knew from the beginning which is why she refused to let you hire anyone else. She also knew she was sick again and out of all of children she knew you would never take the time out to find someone that would be good for you. You had so many people in your ear until Mary stepped in and fired them all. She did the same with Stacey and Stevie, she made sure you all had a sense of peace before she left but you… you were just so caught up in work that you didn't see it. Your mother saw things I could never see and she was truly amazing because of that fact." Dwight said smiling fondly and nodding for Sam to read the other note. Sam felt a sense of peace after hearing what his father said… he never got a chance to say thank you but he knew where he could go to do just that. He knew he needed to read Mercedes' note but something inside him told him he needed to resolve his hurt first. So he grabbed his things and keys running to his truck and took the back way to avoid any hiding media.

Three and half hours later Sam arrived to the one spot he knew he could say goodbye. He got out of his truck and realized the place looked the same it was still full of wild flowers, tall grass and even the small pond that surround the area looked well kept. There was a long path leading away towards a wooded area but he didn't notice any signs saying no trespassing so he proceeded to walk towards the pond. When he got there he felt an overwhelming sense of warmth surrounding him and he knew she was there. All that time running from her and he could feel her everywhere around him in that moment and the tears fell.

"Moma… I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to say goodbye. I'm sorry it took me so long to get back here and I'm sorry you waited as long as you did for me. I miss you so much and I love you so much, I wish I could've said this while you were still here..." Sam said through the sobs as he fell to ground then he felt Mercedes's letter poking his side and let out a deep breath before reading it.

Sam,

I spent the last hour trying to find a way say that I'm truly sorry. I don't know if what I'm doing is best but I do know that I'm doing it to protect you and Dwight, Stacey and Stevie. Running is the coward's way out and as prideful as I am I will be play a coward for you. I have grown to love your family like they are my own and now I can only say I love you too. You were never just my boss and even though I could have never guessed that we would end up being closer than I thought humanly possible but it has happened. My wildest dreams couldn't even come up with me being in love with someone as amazing and caring as you but here I am… madly deeply in love with you. You are my meadow Sam… I hope you can forgive me.

I love you,

-Mercedes

Sam felt there feeling confused and angry, he was hoping the letter would tell him something, give him some type of hint to where she could be but it didn't. He let out an annoyed breath and began to crumble up the letter before something told him to read it again. He scanned the letter over and over not getting a hint until the sun began to shine brightly making it hard to see the whole letter. He tried moving but the sun's rays were too bright and he saw writing on the back for the first time but it wasn't Mercedes' handwriting.

I would love for you to see it, here's the address 729 Terrybrook Ave.

Sam took out his phone and quickly put the address in and saw that it was only a few yards away. He walked towards the pathway and saw a mailbox matching the address on the note. He let out breath he didn't even notice he was holding and ran down the dirt road until he reached the clearing and saw the most beautiful cabin. Sam immediately recognized because it was the one we told he would build his mother one day. I see you're still looking out for me ma! He said to his self before running to the door and taking a deep breath before opening it. He knew it wouldn't be locked because she was much like her family… and they never locked the door during the day. He walked in and didn't see her anywhere he went room to room until he decided to go out the back, his heart was beating a mile a minute and then he saw her sitting there with her head in her hands.

"Baby?" He said softly and swiftly walking over to where she was sitting. Mercedes shot up and looked back and the second she saw him standing there she began to cry.

"I'm so sorry Sam! I shouldn't have left but I didn't know what else to do and I know everyone agreed to figure out a plan but I got another messages about the video and it just brought up how shitty I felt when Anthony did it and I just didn't want you to have to deal with it… you deserved so much more and I know leaving the way I did was stupid." She was rambling and all Sam could do was look at her until he couldn't, he thought he wouldn't still be upset but he was and his anger started to grow.

"You LEFT!" He shouted before he could stop it from coming out. Mercedes jumped slightly and looked at him with apologetic eyes but she knew she was wrong for leaving.

"Sam-"

"NO YOU LEFT A DAMN RESIGNATION LETTER! We made love and you left like it was nothing. You didn't give me a chance to help you through it, you didn't give me a chance to say if I wanted to deal with all of it or not, no you just left! I woke up alone and confused and worried and you just left. Well let's see how you like it." He said before walking back into the house and out the front slamming the door behind him. He could hear her calling his name but he refused to turn around not yet… he know this was childish but she needed to know leaving was not going to fly with him. He made it halfway down the pathway before stopping when he heard a familiar voice but knew it was too good to be true.

"Boy if you don't turn your narrow behind around..."


Sooooo...? I hope you enjoyed this and yes Rachel will get hers... she only got a taste trust me! Stacey is the epitome of bad ass okay because baby girl was big mad! I couldn't let Sam just run back Mercedes all lovey-dovey sorry but that's not realistic and I mean.. they're gonna make up ;) until next time XOXO!