Enjoy!

Please excuse any mistakes! I hope it makes sense!

Slumber Parties and Revelations

Mercedes sat on her porch, looking out at the garden and sighed. It had been three weeks since she was discharged and everything still felt strange to her. She had finally been able to move back into her own home, but nothing looked the same. The garden she had worked so hard on in recent days was in full bloom, but the vibrant colors only made her feel more distant and isolated.

The time she had spent at the hospital had been a strange, surreal experience that she was still trying to make sense of. After her first session with Dr. Finn, she had a lot of new thoughts and feelings swirling around in her head. He had hit the nail on the head when he called her out for wanting to run away from her reality, but she didn't want to go alone... selfishly she wanted to take Sam with her.

As Mercedes stared out into the garden, she wished she could take Sam away to a place where they could both feel free and happy. But as she slowly came to terms with the fact that running away wasn't an option, she breathed in the foreign yet familiar scents of the garden and felt a sense of peace. Maybe she had found her solace in the garden after all.

Sam.

She, according to Finn, needed to stay away from him for at least twenty- five days or until she was ready. He said she would grow a dependency towards him and she didn't need to build a relationship based on those grounds. Her sessions since the first one had been surprisingly very helpful and she felt like she was learning more about herself and how to deal with all her past trauma but there was still one thing that was lingering over her like a huge dark cloud.

Nathan.

He'd been arrested and after that everything had gone cold—a never ending silence. She reached out to the local police, but they only gave her vague answers which left her with more questions than answers. Artie had vanished without a trace, making her wonder if he'd ever existed at all.

But then she stumbled upon something unexpected. The Washington's had been watching over her since she was a little girl, some unknown force sent by someone she didn't know. Every single person that helped her along the way was sent by him and it almost seemed magical that even though he couldn't be there himself, he still managed to send help. Her grandmother set in place a lot of things to guarantee her safety, but Artie played an equally important role in making sure she stayed safe. As his presence loomed large throughout her journey, she thanked him silently for being there with her when she needed him most.

"Knock, knock." She grinned when she saw her buddies Santana, Tina and Marley standing on the other side of the door. They had all gone above and beyond to help her adjust to the new changes in her life.

Because of the damage Marcus caused to her eye, she had to wear glasses to correct her vision and she still wasn't completely confident with walking around. Fortunately, there were no long-term effects to her brain but she did have an occasional headache that required medicine.

"Hey!" She started rising, but was halted when they all hurried towards her. "Guys, I got it. I'm much more steady on my feet today than I was yesterday."

Tina gave her a teary grin before quickly wiping away a few tears. "Come on T, I'm alright." Mercedes said reassuringly.

"Ignore her, she's emotionally charged… not sure why or how but she is." Marley responded with a smile, extending a hand for Mercedes to take hold of. "We brought some treats with us."

Mercedes smiled gratefully at her friend and took hold of their hand as they guided her into the room which was filled with snacks, food tray and what seemed like several bottles of wine.

"The wine was my idea." Santana said, nudging her gently with a mischievous grin. "I remembered you telling us this was your last week on your meds so why not have a little fun?"

"This is too much! How am I supposed to eat all this food?" She gestured to the table crowded with dishes of lasagna and garlic bread, pizza, salad, and a platter of fruit. Her jaw dropped when she noticed the cake atop it all.

The girls laughed as they ushered her into the living room and firmly settled her onto the couch. "Hate to break it to you but the food isn't only for you." Marley said, her eyes lit up with glee.

"That's right, we're having a slumber party!" Tina said, finally able to join in the conversation again. "Sam mentioned that you told him you never had a real one." She brushed an errant lock of hair away from her face and smiled shyly.

She looked at her friends, struggling to swallow the lump in her throat as tears pricked the corners of her eyes. "Yeah… I guess he remembered."

Santana smirked knowingly. "He mentioned wanting to see you too."

Blushing furiously, she ducked her head with a shy smirk. "Feeling is mutual… but doctor's orders." She quipped before taking a sip of sparkling cider from the glass Marley offered her.

Marley arched an eyebrow curiously as she handed back the glass. "And just how many more days are left?"

She surveyed them each over the rim of her glass before answering softly, "Four more days."

Tina snickered and shook her head. "How cute, she's counting down the days till they can see each other again."

"Bet he's counting the minutes and milliseconds too. It's funny how obvious it is that he still has feelings for her and yet he tries to hide them – you'd think a guy like him would know better." Santana said with a chuckle, reaching for a bunch of grapes from the fruit bowl on the counter. "Oh yeah, like when he turned up at the lodge out of nowhere. He hasn't been there since he was a teenager but here we are, seeing him all the time."

Since Stowe was such a small town, it was impossible for Sam and Mercedes to avoid running into each other so they agreed that her friends would let him know when they had outings so he wouldn't accidentally show up. Everyone in town made sure to keep them apart, if Sam was at the bakery people would either block his path or hurry him along. Since being told to stay away from each other they hadn't even shared eye contact - which was easier than expected for Mercedes during the first week.

It was strange missing someone like she missed Sam. The connection between them scared her and excited her in equal measure; although he wasn't overly affectionate, his kind nature shone through the hard exterior and he listened without trying to fix her. He simply accepted her as Mercedes and that was something she'd been longing for - which is why Finn's insistence on them staying apart made perfect sense.

She understood that she could grow dependent and he was right, she didn't want a relationship built on that type of foundation but it still sucked. She had never been in a position where she could just willingly date someone or even comprehend the thought of wanting to date someone. Yet here she was, having all kinds of wild thoughts about him, about them.

She walked over to the couch, sitting. "Okay, so how does this slumber party as adults work?" She asked, choosing not to address what Marley said.

"Well adult slumber parties have a completely different meaning so let's just call it a slumber party but we're allowed to drink and stay up all night." Marley answered.

"But we can't start yet, we're waiting on someone." Tina chimed in and Mercedes shot her a confused look.

"Is Blaine coming?" She asked and the girl shook their head.

"It's a surprise." Tina replied, grabbing a tray as the other girls followed suit and grabbed a tray of food placing it on her coffee table. "Now, we can either watch some movies, play some music and talk or we can do both."

Mercedes laughed, shaking her head. "Well…" She said, grabbing a cookie. "When I would watch movies, it was always both and then the hot guys would always crash it."

"Well, no boys will be crashing this one but we can definitely do the first two!" Marley said, turning on the tv then walking over to turn on her radio as well. "What do you want to listen to?"

"Beyonce… of course." They heard and Mercedes turned before standing as quickly as she could.

"Oh my God… when? How? I don't… when did-" Mercedes tried to complete her sentences but her mind was malfunctioning.

"Oh now, none of that. Unique simply won't have it!" Unique said, quickly walking over and pulling her into a tight embrace.

Mercedes wrapped her arms around the woman, softly crying. "I never thought I'd see you again."

Unique pulled away, looking down at her. "Now who put that idea in your head?" She asked teasingly. "I sure as hell never said that."

Mercedes smiled, wiping her tears. "You know, this old mind of mine is all crazy."

"Hmm. Don't I know it, well come on child. There's a party to be had and we got some gossiping to do. Particularly about that handsome piece of man that came and plucked me from my isolation." Unique replied, gently pushing her back to the couch.

"Sam brought you here?"

"Mhm, he and that cute little detective called me and filled me in on everything, next thing I know there's a private jet waiting for me and your man greeting me." Unique replied.

"Oh…. didn't know he was given that title but yeah.." She said teasingly.

Santana rolled her eyes. "Please he was given that title after the Color's Ball and if that damn shrink hadn't said you two couldn't see each other for a while, you'd probably be married or at least less virginal."

Marley and Tina snickered. "Oh that last part is so true! That man is counting the seconds." Marley said, giggling.

Mercedes' eyes grew wide. "Oh goodness…I hadn't thought about all of that yet."

Santana shared a look with Unique. "Well that's what adult sleepovers are for, we can gossip, give you horrible advice and share all of our sex stories!"

"Oh yes, honey! I have a lot of advice I could give you but first, I need a drink!" Unique said before waltzing into her kitchen and pouring herself a glass of wine.

After everyone got settled and the drinks were poured, the room filled with laughter and candid conversation. The walls echoed with tales of their past escapades, each one more outrageous than the last. Mercedes found herself captivated by the stories, alternating between bursts of laughter and wide-eyed shock.

Sam looked over the plans once more before nodding to Noah. "I think everything looks right, we have about four more days before it needs to be completed."

Noah smirked. "Counting down the days till you get to see Mercedes again?" he asked teasingly.

Sam rolled his eyes. "Not that it's any of your concern but it makes sense to have it done around that time so she can get back to it." He explained even though he knew that was the only reason he wanted to get her bookstore restored.

He wanted so many times to say fuck it and go talk to her, to be with her but he didn't want to rush the progress she was making. Thanks to her friends and Stacey he knew pretty much everything but it didn't mean much since it wasn't coming from her. He was released from the hospital before Mercedes and had to do more physical therapy to regain complete function again. His legs were still a bit shaky but he was getting there. All he could think about was Mercedes, and how he wanted to show her that he was getting stronger every day.

Noah chuckled, clapping his friend on the shoulder. "I can see it in your eyes, man. You miss her."

Sam sighed, feeling nostalgic. "Every single day." The longing in his voice was almost palpable. He missed her laughter, her smile, the way she used to look at him. He missed their sarcastic chats and the ease that came with her presence.

He found himself drifting, thinking of the last time he saw her before the accident. He wished he'd listened to her and he hated that because he hadn't all of the horrific events followed. He found himself constantly thinking about what happened to her, what that man did to her and often woke up in a cold sweat filled with rage.

Noah, sensing the depth of Sam's emotions, took a step back and cleared his throat. "Alright," he said, sliding his hands into his pockets. "Let's get back to work, buddy." His voice was gruff but there was a touch of sympathy in his eyes.

Sam simply nodded, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand. The bookstore had been Mercedes' dream, her sanctuary. He wanted it to be perfect for her when she returned. He owed her that much.

They worked in silence for a while, their camaraderie evident in their synchronized movements, each knowing what the other needed without having to ask.

As Noah's team placed the last beam into position, Sam couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. The bookstore was beginning to take shape again, much like his own life.

The delicate sound of the door chime echoed through the room, causing all heads to turn towards the entrance. Stacey sauntered in with a playful wave, holding a small bottle filled with pills in her hand.

"It's time for your medication," she announced, making her way towards Sam who let out a deep groan.

"I thought I told you to toss those away," he grumbled, clearly not looking forward to taking them.

Stacey clicked her tongue in disapproval. "You know better than that, Sam." Her voice was stern, but there was a hint of care underlying her sharp tone. She crossed her arms and stood her ground, staring him down with a look that clearly said she wasn't going to budge on this matter.

Sam shot Noah a desperate look, silently asking for support. Noah simply shrugged his shoulders and flashed him an apologetic grin before heading off towards the other side of the bookstore. "Sorry buddy," he called over his shoulder, "I'm not getting involved in this one."

Defeated, Sam let out a long sigh. He knew he couldn't win this battle, not when it came to Stacey. He reached out a hand and took the small bottle from her, twisting off the cap with a grumble.

"I just don't get why I need to take these anymore," he argued, shaking a couple of pills into his palm.

Stacey sighed heavily as she dug into her purse for a water bottle. "Sam," she started gently, "you know you still need them for your pain and muscle spasms. It's part of your therapy."

Sam sighed again but he didn't argue any further. Stacey was just as stubborn, if not more so than he was. He downed the pills quickly with a swig of water, grimacing at the bitter taste left on his tongue.

Stacey smiled, satisfied, and tucked the water bottle back into her purse. "Alright then, get back to work Mr. Construction Man," she said teasingly, flicking his hard hat before turning to leave.

Sam shook his head at Stacey's retreating back, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips despite the situation. As much as he hated to admit it, Stacey's presence was a comforting one. Her constant banter and playful demeanor never failed to lighten the mood.

With a refreshed resolve, Sam went back to work. The sound of hammers and drills filled the bookstore, echoing off the walls and ceiling. The sight of the once ruined bookstore being rebuilt was heartwarming in its own way.

As dusk settled in, they decided to call it a day. Sam looked around at the work they'd done and felt a bubble of satisfaction rise inside him. With every nail hammered and every beam placed, they were one step closer to restoring Mercedes' dream.

Though his body protested with painful twinges, Sam found himself lost in thoughts of Mercedes again as he made his way home. He imagined her walking through the bookstore door for the first time since it was burned down by her brother. The smile that started to form fell the moment he saw the Washington's car in his driveway.

"What the hell do they want…" He muttered aloud.

The night wore on, punctuated by cookie-fueled sugar rushes and impromptu dance breaks whenever a catchy Beyonce song came on. Unique seemed to have an endless supply of amusing anecdotes and Santana's biting wit kept everyone entertained.

"So," Unique finally said, curling up on an armchair with her glass of wine, "let's talk about this Sam that brought me here."

"Oh yes," Marley chimed in, playfully nudging Mercedes. "Do tell us more about this 'Sam'."

Mercedes blushed, trying to find the right words. Her heart fluttered at the mention of his name, but she felt a twinge of concern creep into her mind. They were right - she hadn't really processed what was happening yet. Sam was a part of her life now, and it was all moving so fast.

"Well," she started hesitantly, "he was a complete asshole up until all this mess started with my family and then..." She trailed off.

"You're in love with him." Unique said smiling. "Well what do you plan on doing about it?"

Mercedes flushed a deeper shade of red, fidgeting uncomfortably on the plush couch. "I-I don't really know. Everything's happened so quickly and we've hardly had time to just... be, you know?"

Santana snorted into her glass, grinning crookedly at Mercedes. "Honey, are you waiting for some written invitation? You need to jump in and seize the day, or rather... seize Sam."

All women burst into laughter as Mercedes swatted Santana's arm. "Stop that! It's not that simple."

"Oh, really?" Unique perked up, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "And why is that so? Are you afraid he might not feel the same way?"

"No." Mercedes was quick to assure, shaking her head emphatically. "It's just that..." That what? That she wasn't ready? That she was afraid of getting hurt again after all she'd been through? That she was worried about what falling for Sam could mean for their future?

As silence fell over the room, Tina took Mercedes's hand comfortingly. "You don't have to rush things, Mercedes. Follow your heart."

Mercedes smiled weakly at Tina's words, feeling a flood of gratitude towards her friend. She didn't have an answer yet for Unique's question - or for her own heart - but perhaps that was okay. As the night drifted further along, and their laughter softened into confessions and shared dreams, Mercedes reflected everything that happened to her and who she was now. She wasn't healed but she wasn't broken either, sure she still didn't have complete closure but her friends were right about one thing. She'd somehow fallen in love with Sam and she was sure somehow he'd fallen for her too.

"Love isn't always about racing ahead," Unique said after a moment, her eyes softened by years of wisdom and experience. "Sometimes it's about taking your time, learning about each other, growing together."

"That's true," Marley added, throwing a sympathetic look Mercedes's way. "You two have been through so much already..."

Santana couldn't resist adding her two cents. "But you do realize he's crazy about you, right?"

Mercedes laughed at this, shaking her head in exasperation. "Santana..."

"No really, it's obvious," Santana pressed on, ignoring Mercedes' protest. "I saw the way he was looking at you during the Color's Ball. Like you were the only woman in the world."

Even as Mercedes blushed again and attempted to wave off Santana's comment. "That feels like it was a million years ago... and with us still having to wait to actually talk to each other... what if he's had time to change his mind?"

Tina let out a soft chuckle, "Mercedes, anyone could see that Sam is head over heels for you. He got on his private jet and brought Unique here just to make you happy. If that doesn't scream 'smitten', I don't know what does."

"True," Santana agreed. "But if you don't take the risk, if you don't dive headfirst into those terrifying uncertain waters... well, then it wouldn't be love at all."

Mercedes contemplated their words while absently tracing the rim of her now empty glass of wine. She felt afraid, excited, confused, but more than anything she felt loved and understood.

Santana's sharp voice sliced through the air like a knife, her frustration evident in every word. "You know the real problem is that therapist. Why would he tell you two to wait all this time?"

Mercedes let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "I don't know... he told me it's what we needed and then followed it with or until I'm ready."

Marley whipped her head towards Mercedes, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Wait, so if you're ready why not just go to him now?" She asked, the other members of their group nodding in agreement.

"I... what do I even say?" Mercedes' voice broke as she struggled to find the right words, her heart racing with anxiety and uncertainty.

Unique laughed lightly, a glint of mischief back in her eyes, "Oh honey, it's quite simple. You say, 'Sam, I love you.'"

Mercedes' cheeks heated at Unique's blunt statement while Marley and Tina clapped their hands in agreement, their eyes sparkling with hope and anticipation. Santana just leaned back on the couch, crossing her arms over her chest with a satisfied smirk playing across her lips.

"But-" Mercedes tried to protest, but she was cut short by Santana's dismissive wave.

"No buts," Santana said firmly. "You don't need to find the perfect words or write an articulate love letter. Just be honest and speak from your heart. That's what men like Sam respect."

Mercedes stared at her friends, their words sinking in. They were right. She had been overthinking things, letting fear hold her back when all she needed to do was be honest with Sam and herself. And even if things didn't go as she hoped, at least she would have taken a risk for something - someone - she cared deeply about.

"Alright," Mercedes nodded finally, determination glimmering in her eyes. "I'll do it. I'll tell Sam how I feel."

The room erupted into cheers, the women whooping and clapping as they toasted to Mercedes.

"I should go now… right?"

"Hell yes! Limp your ass over to that mansion and kiss those guppy lips!' Santana encouraged, earning laughs from the group.

Mercedes agreed, getting up from her seat. "Okay, I'll just-" She was interrupted by a knock on the door. Mercedes walked over and opened the door, she took a step back when she saw Artie standing there. "What...what are you doing here?" She stammered, her voice trembling with a mix of confusion and dread.

Artie looked at her before running a hand through his hair. "Nathan escaped custody."

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I won't drag out the Nathan thing I promise and the next chapter will be a fluffy good chapter! until next time xoxo!