A/N: Welp.. time is winding down... there are time jumps but this isn't the last chapter!

Songs: Bless the Broken Road - Rascal Flatts

You Make Me Feel (Like A Natural Woman)- Aretha Franklin


A Proposal

"So you guys know this is my last show and I know this location was a little unorthodox but everything I did today was intentional. There's someone very important in the audience and I would love for her to come up here, so if you cheer really loudly I think we can all convince her to come up." Sam said smiling at his fan, this was his final show as a singer he wanted to slow down and enjoy life so he decided to go behind the scenes and start writing for up and coming artist. He was very specific about having his final show in the field near his and Mercedes' home it was limited and only welcomed to the first two hundred and the rest would live for other fans and all the proceeds would go to charities and organizations for cancer research. The whole concert was dedicated to his mother and everyone including Mercedes's family was there to celebrate.

"So what do you Mercy?" Sam asked smiling and the crowd began chanting her name. Mercedes was slightly flustered because he didn't mention anything about her coming on stage but when Mark nudged her to go on stage. She smiled and began weaving her way carefully through the audience, covering her stomach every so often whoever said being pregnant and going to a damn concert was a good idea was sadly mistaken. She finally reached the steps and Sam greeted her with a warm smile and reaching for her hand to help her up the steps. Everyone cheered and felt herself blushing, Sam brought a finger to his lips and the whole crowd silenced.

"Okay so I'm a little nervous so bare with me, she does that to me and I have a song I'd like to sing to her but I can't it alone. I have a few friends here to help make sure I say all the right things." Sam said placing a stool for her to sit on and winked at her then letting out a deep breath.

I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through

I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you
That every long lost dream lead me to where you are
Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms

This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
Yes it did

I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

Every long lost dream led me to where you are
And others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know it's true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
Yeah

And now I'm just rolling home
Into my lover's arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

That God blessed the broken road
Ooh, ooh
That led me straight to you

Mercedes sat with her hand over her heart letting her tears flow freely and smiling at Sam. She was at a lost for words because she wasn't expecting him to sing that so beautifully and to have Rascal Flats there with him made it that much more beautiful.

"Mercedes, there's so many beautiful things about that I could literally spend hours and never make a dent in all of those things. Your smile was the very first thing I noticed about you all those years ago, the way you carry yourself with so much grace and how delicate you were with me when my mother passed will always amaze me. Learning the things I have about just much you've done for me and my family made me realize just how blind I was … getting to know you and I mean truly know you has been the best experience in my life. Learning what makes you smile, laugh and what makes you feel loved was the best part for because seeing you smile is like Christmas day, hearing you laugh makes me want to laugh even if I don't know why, loving you is the sweetest feeling and I never want to be without it…" Sam said then bending down on one knee causing Mercedes to gasp and cover her mouth to stop her from screaming.

"When I think about you, I know that no one else will ever hold my heart the way you do. I know my life will never be complete without you beside me to share it. So Mercedes Diane Jones, will you marry me?" Sam asked holding his breath waiting for her to respond.

"Yes!" She said nodding and smiling brightly.

"Yes?" She nodded again and he jumped up kissing her and placing the ring on her finger and the whole crowd cheered and clapped for them. The shared a few more kisses before pulling away from each other and facing the crowd.

"Okay there's one more surprise..." Sam said smiling at Mercedes mischievously and she shot him an intrigued look.

"My beautiful fiance has the voice of an angel, uh-uh where you going?" Sam said laughing and grabbing Mercedes by the waist and gently pulling her back to him.

"Like I was saying she has an amazing voice and I think it's time we let the world know it. What do you guys think?" Sam asked pointing the mic to the crowd who all cheered for her to sing. She shook her head and mouth no to Sam but eventually gave in when they started chanting SING!

"She's gonna sing!" Sam said excitedly and handed her the mic. She let out a shaky breath and cleared her throat.

"Bear with me I'm not prepared." The crowd just cheered to help her fell more at ease.

Looking out on the morning rain
I used to feel so uninspired
And when I knew I had to face another day
Lord, it made me feel so tired
Before the day I met you, life was so unkind
But you're the key to my peace of mind

Cause you make me feel
You make me feel
You make me feel like
A natural woman (woman)

When my soul was in the lost and found
You came along to claim it
I didn't know just what was wrong with me
'Til your kiss helped me name it
Now I'm no longer doubtful, of what I'm living for
And if I make you happy I don't need to do more

'Cause you make me feel
You make me feel
You make me feel like
A natural woman (woman)

Oh, baby, what you've done to me (what you've done to me)
You make me feel so good inside (good inside)
And I just want to be, close to you (want to be)
You make me feel so alive

You make me feel
You make me feel
You make me feel like
A natural woman (woman)

You make me feel
You make me feel
You make me feel like a natural woman (woman)

You make me feel
You make me feel

After she sang the last not she let out a breath and looked out at everyone with a nervous smile then suddenly the whole crowd erupted making her laugh and cover her face bashfully and doing a half bow. She looked back and saw Sam smiling brightly at her giving her the thumb up before walking over to her and kissing her again. He was so happy he was able to win her over and get her back here because he almost lost his mind without her.

Four Month Ago

"You better be ready, that's all I'm going to say." Frank said shaking his head at Sam who looked like he had lost his puppy. He walked in and saw Mercedes sitting there crying and started to move towards but Mercedes noticed him first and shot him a dark look making him stop in his tracks.

"W-what the hell do you want?" She spat trying to sound angry but was failing and everyone noticed. She was happy to see him and it was evident but she was stubborn and he knew it that as well. He took a step closer and she tried to back away but was stopped by her mother.

"We need to talk Mercedes." Sam said calmly. She huffed and crossed her arm over her chest.

"We have nothing to talk about Samuel."

"Stop acting like you're mad because I know you're not and stop being so standoffish. I came and you asked me to leave, to give you space well I did that now it's time we talked." He replied matching her stance.

"I don't have to listen to this." She said moving away from her mother and heading in the opposite direction shaking her head.

"If you run away from me again, I won't come back." Sam said sternly shocking everyone in the room.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me and it'll hurt like hell but I will not play this cat and mouse game with you. I hurt you with my words and I have been trying to apologize but you won't let me, you won't talk to me or look at me. I never left when asked, yes I left you alone but I stayed here and it has been awful. You being so close but me not being able to talk to you or hold you or be near you, it has been like someone cut a hole inside me but it won't close. So if you walk away… if you run again I will leave." He replied breathing heavily. He didn't want it to come to that but he was broken without her and knew he had to let it be known he wasn't going to let her run again. Mercedes was frozen she searched his eyes and saw that he was serious, she looked around and everyone was looking at her like she needed to decide on what she wanted to do. She looked at her grandfather and he gave a slight nod and knowing before pointing at her stomach.

"Come with me." She said rolling her eyes and walking past her grandmothers and mother towards Sam grabbing his hand and leading him to the spare room where she used to sleep as child.

Her grandparents and mother all waited until they heard the door close and all let out a breath they had been holding.

"Whew chile, these new kids don't know a damn thing about putting up a fight." Katherine said chuckling.

"I thought she was at least going to slap him, hell I would have just to be dramatic." Janis said giving her daughter knowingly look.

"That was one time and David… deserved it." Marie said shrugging her shoulders.

"Girl my baby was late by two hours and you thought he cheating on you. That pregnancy mind runs in the family and baby girl has it bad." Katherine said laughing.

"So we think she's pregnant?"

"I can smell them babies a mile away. I told that boy y'all Hollis women were fertile...but she had his nose wide open. How long did it take for you and David to get pregnant with Mark?" Katherine asked with a smirk.

"No comment." Marie said rolling her eyes before realizing something. "Wait you said babies… as in more than one?"

"Baby girl not acting like a damn fool for no reason. I know pregnancy hormones and that girl is going through it."

"Yeah and she don't even know it… to make matters worse if she keeps up that stubborn little attitude she going to lose a good one." Frank chimed in giving them all a look.

"He's not leaving without her, if he didn't intend on fighting he would've went back home the last time she told him to leave." They all nodded and waited patiently to see what was about to happen.

Mercedes + Sam

Mercedes stood in front of Sam with her brows furrowed and chewing on her lip, she wasn't sure what to say but she knew she was still upset at what he said the last time they saw each other.

"Oh so now you're defending him! Defending what he did to you all those years ago? Why all of a sudden do you need to see him? Did you even want to divorce him huh or are you still holding out hope that he'll come back?"

She grew angry and walked to where he was standing looking at her and slapped him, he didn't flinch he just looked at her with understanding eyes and she rose her hand to slap him again but he stopped her by grabbing it. Mercedes tried to get out of his hold but felt herself falling into him crying and welcoming his arms as he wrapped them around her body protectively and holding her tightly.

"I'm so sorry for what I said, I didn't mean any of it… I was scared. I was scared of losing you, of losing what we were building and I know that doesn't change what I said, I know it was hurtful and I should've stopped you… I should've tried harder." Sam said letting his own tears fall freely. He messed up but he wasn't about to give up without a fight.

"Mercedes, I love you and if you let me I can prove it… I don't intend on you accepting my apology this very sec-"

"I forgive you and I'm sorry for pushing you away…" She said looking up at him.

"What?"

"I'm still mad yes and you will never and I do mean NEVER speak to me like that again. I need you to trust me when I say this, I had every intention on coming back to you after I spoke with Anthony… hell I was going to come back even after what you said but I was so angry and my judgment was clouded." She replied shaking her head as more tears fell.

"So come home, be with me… I have canceled the last bit of my tour and I canceled all interviews permanently I don't want anything but you."

"What about a baby?"She asked nervously. She knew her grandparents and she knew they wouldn't just say something that outlandish if it didn't hold some truths.

"W-what?" He asked looking looking shocked and confused.

"They seem to think I am and-" She started before Sam started laughing.

"What?"

"Your grandma told me you were fertile and all it took was a touch." He said shaking his head. "Our first time… we weren't covered or anytime after that. I just assumed you were on the pill because you never said anything but I should've known better."

"So you…" She said pulling away looking worried.

"Have you taken a test?" He asked ignoring her question he wasn't upset just want to be sure before he got excited.

"No. I was going to today though but they kept telling me I was and it was making me angry because that means they knew before me and you." She said giggling at how silly she sounded.

"Well how about we kiss, maybe a little more and then we can get a test?" He said with wiggling his eyebrows with a sly grin.

"Mmm… I have missed you kisses." She said moving closer to him and wrapping her arms around him smiling. He cupped her face and kissed her and said finally after a few moments making them both laugh before deepening it. They were in dangerous territory because they hadn't been alone on weeks and Mercedes's hormones were raging so when he deepened everything heightened and her body began to burn.

"We need to stop." She said abruptly pulling away and creating distance fanning herself.

"We don't." He replied closing the gap she created and pulling her into a deep kiss making her moan.

"They've been in there for long enough don't you think?" Marie asked biting her nails nervously.

"Not that long..." Janis replied before tilting her head to side and jumping up with Katherine behind her walking to the room.

"What? What I miss?" Marie asked feeling left out all of a sudden.

"Oh hell no, not in my house… I should've know it would lead to that but she had better not be doing what I think she doing. In my house? With that big lipped boy? They better be fully clothed or so help me God I'll-" Janis stopped when the door opened and she was met with two smiling faces.

"Well don't you both look… happy." Katherine said smirking.

"We made up and before you ask Nana no, I did not let him take my clothes off… not like it would be the first time but whatever." Mercedes said but mumbled the last part.

"I would have." Katherine said making Janis turn and shoot her a look like she was crazy.

"What? He came in here and told it like it was… why you think I married Michael?"

"Well we're happy you made up that's all that really matters. Now let's get some food in you and we can talk about other pressing matters." Marie said smiling.

"About that..." Sam said feeling slightly embarrassed but he wasn't hungry… well for food at least.

"Yeah… we need to run an errand." Mercedes chimed in trying to hold back her smile. Her grandparents and mother just gave them both knowing looks before nodding saying their goodbyes.

"Umm Sam?"

"Yes?"

"You better not ever hurt her again, I won't be as nice next time." Frank said before smiling and waving him off. Sam just nodded and made a silent promise he wouldn't because that would mean hurting the love of his life.

"You ready?" Sam asked Mercedes as she looked at the pregnancy test box.

"I don't think I have a choice but to be ready. What if..."

"If you are then we will need to add on to the house and if you're not then we will work on it because I don't know if I can start using protection after having you…" He replied honestly making her roll her eyes but she felt better than he was going to be happy either way.

"Okay, let's do it." She said with nervous grin but she was excited to see if her grandparents really could "smell" babies. She walked in to the bathroom and took a deep breath before taking the test and laying it face down and washing her hands. She came out and saw Sam jump up from where he was sitting.

"We have to wait three minutes then we can check…" She said before looking around the hotel room he had been staying in and it was evident he had been there for a while. "You really stayed huh?"

"I wasn't leaving this state without you baby." He said smiling at her.

"I'm so sorry, this could've been resolved weeks ago… I missed you." She said walking over to him and sitting in his lap with a sad smile. Sam wrapped his arms around her and kissed her temple.

"I missed you too baby, you have no idea how many time I thought about rushing into your parent's house and just picking you and taking you with me." He said with slight chuckle then lifting and turning her so that she was facing him. She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck running her hands through his hair which had grown since she last saw him. She let her eyes run over the details of his face and tilted her head to side smiling at him, he grew a beard and it looked very good on him and she could help running one of her hands over it slowly.

"Mhm… you like it?" He asked enjoying her hands rubbing his face.

"Yes, you look very gruff, it's kinda sexy… makes me wonder how it feels on my body." She said biting her lip and winking.

"We can make that happen." He said kissing her and picking her up, she wrapped her legs around his waist and leaned more into the kiss. Right when he was about to lay down on the bed the timer went off and they both froze. They both shared a look and she grew nervous, he must have sensed it because he just squeezed her hand and nodded.

"Come on, let's see if my baby is having my baby." He said smiling and helping her up.

End Flashback

"SAMMMM!" Mercedes shouted standing in there closet looking at herself in the mirror with her brows furrowed.

"WHAT? IS IT TIME? Okay… we prepared for this, I'll grab the bag and you can slowly walk down stairs and-" He stopped his rambling when she placed her hands over his mouth.

"Baby, I'm going into labor. I just wanted to know if I looked fat in this?" She asked biting her lip and turning to the side rubbing her now large stomach.

"Oh hell no… you can't make me answer that question. There isn't a right answer and you end up hitting me then crying because you feel bad for hitting me… nope. I PLEAD THE FIFTH!" Sam replied backing away from his fiance, they had decided to postpone the wedding until their babies were born because Mercedes felt they should be present since they technically made their debut before he proposed. Sam didn't care either way so long as she married him in the end so they agreed after their twins were born they would start planning their big day.

"Come on, I promise I won't get angry or cry. Does this look good on me?" She asked sweetly. Sam rolled his eyes and looked at what she was wearing it was a beautiful yellow dress that fit her perfectly, even though she was pregnant her curves were still very evident and he liked the fact that her breast grew and found his self staring at them a little longer than he should have been. The yellow dress only elevated her glow and it complimented her skin beautifully, he smiled when he saw the apprehensive expression on her face.

"You look absolutely beautiful." He finally answered looking at her dreamily, his heart skipped a beat every time he thought about her carrying their children and in a few months he would be meeting them and would be a father.

"Yeah? Yeah I do huh? Well I'm wearing this to Mark's wedding so you'll need to plan accordingly." She said eyeing herself once more before slowly removing the gown and placing it back in it place.

"You should sleep like that." Sam said walking towards her with dark eyes which she chuckled and pointed to her stomach.

"Uh-uh, you've done enough! I swear I'm never getting pregnant again after I have these two little things, they are so busy. Here feel." She said grabbing his hand and placing it on her stomach. He smiled brightly when he felt them moving and then laughed when he felt one of the kick. Sam got down on his knees and pressed a gentle kisses on her stomach making them stop and settle.

"You two need to calm down or mommy won't give you any extra siblings which means daddy will have to result to old tactics. Now can we behave of daddy?" He asked making Mercedes laugh at his silliness but one thing she could admit was that their children favored him already and she couldn't wait to see him as a daddy.


Sooooo... as promised they mended their broken fences and are not back together! Mercy Merce is pregnant and Sam proposed! Also I love her grandparents! lol I hope you enjoyed and the next chapter will seriously be magical! Until next time XOXO