Here's a new one!

The Best Thing

Synopsis: Mercedes needs out of her marriage for the sake of her child, so she calls an old friend who agrees to help out but she doesn't escape the drama that easily as new temptation arises in an unlikely source, her friend's brother. Based on the song The Best Thing by Inayah.

"Baby wake up." Mercedes whispered to her son gently shaking him.

"Mommy?"

"Mhm, I need you to get dressed, we're going on a trip but you gotta hurry." She whispered before handing him the clothes she had ready looking at her watch then grabbing some more of his things.

"Where are we going?" He asked mid yawn and slipped his pants on.

"Mommy's taking you to an old friend's house, it's right on the beach and we can go swimming in the ocean!" She said passing him his shoes before looking at her watch again realizing they needed to hurry. She quickly threw a few more things into his bag before kneeling down and helping him with his shoes.

"Why are we leaving so early?"He questioned with a yawn.

"Ty... because I don't want to hit traffic. Ready?" She asked and he nodded. She grabbed his hand and quickly walked downstairs grabbing the bags she had waiting and just as quickly walked out of the house with her son in tow.

She got the bags and Tyson into her car before she got inside gripping the steering wheel, shaking slightly.

"Alright baby let's go on an adventure!" She said holding back tears and she reversed and drove away from that place finally.

"Babe! It's time for you to wake up."

"I'm awake." Sam Evans said walking into the kitchen of his shared home with his fiancé Harmony.

"Oh well are you up early, what's the occasion?" Harmony teased and he just chuckled.

"Maybe I wanted to surprise you with breakfast but you beat me to it." He replied kissing her on the cheek and she placed a plate of avocado toast in front of him to which he frowned.

"What? It's healthy and you don't want to look bloated in our engagement pictures do you?"

"I guess not..." He said picking at the food in front of him before taking a bite and immediately regretting it. He shot Harmony a small smile which she returned before prancing away happily and as soon as she was out of sight he spit it out into the trash.

"Sorry but what you don't know won't hurt you." He muttered to himself before grabbing his things and heading out shouting goodbye as he did.

He had a long day ahead of him and the last thing he needed was some frilly breakfast to hold him over so he headed to the local diner to get something greasy and filling. He had a long standing agreement with the people that worked there, as long as they never told his fiancé about him coming there he would leave everyone that was there a huge tip.

He walked in smiling seeing one of his favorite waitresses there and she shot him a knowing look as he went to his favorite booth.

"You know just because you work out and have a high metabolism doesn't mean you should keep lying to your fiancé."

"Well Tina, if you don't say anything she won't know or get hurt." He replied looking over the menu before she snatched it.

"I already know what you're going to order." She said, making him laugh.

"Well can I have coffee with it too." He asked, putting on a sweet smile that never worked on her.

"Maybe." She joked before walking away. Sam knew most of the people in the small town of Pace Harbor and they all knew him and his family.

His family was pretty popular considering his sister Quinn was one of the best lawyers to ever come from there. She worked with high industry clients and never lost a single case, his brother Jack was pro MLB player who just signed a huge deal with Seattle Mariners and to top it off his dad was a retired musician that had a successful career earning five Grammy's before he decided to leave it behind to live a normal life.

Sam wasn't low on the totem pole either; he'd been producing his own comic series since high school and now three of them were becoming major films. Life was perfect for him, he had a great career and a loving fiancé that he was marrying in a few months plus he had a great group of friends that kept his life entertaining.

"Here's your heart attack food." Tina said, placing a huge plate of pancakes, bacon, eggs and sausage in front of him before grabbing him some coffee .

"Thank you Tina." He said sweetly looking over at the door as it chimed and he saw his brother coming in looking completely disheveled.

"Oh shit..." Sam said, trying to push his food away.

"Dude, hey T, dude if Penny asked I've been with you all day okay?" Jack said, grabbing one of his pancakes, eating it then taking a long sip of his coffee.

"Why am I lying to Penny?" Sam asked moving his plate away from his brother.

"Because you owe me and... I have something I need to tend to for a few hours so I need you to cover." Jack replied, grabbing a strip of bacon quickly eating it before Sam could snatch it back.

"Again that doesn't explain why you're lying to your wife."

"Dude you literally keep these people in business because you're lying to Harmony." Jack responded, shooting in a knowing look.

"Fine but where are you going?" He asked, sighing.

"Beach house, I'll only be gone for a few hours then I'll be back and I'll explain everything then. Thanks bro." Jack said before grabbing his sausage and walking out winking at Tina as he did.

"Your brother is always up to something." She quipped and Sam just nodded before finally digging into his food and racking his brain on my Jack of all people needed him to lie to Penny.

"Ty, baby look." Mercedes said waking him up, they had been on the road for hours and finally made it. Tyson opened his eyes smiling at his mom before looking out the window and seeing what she was pointing at, it was the beach.

"Wow! Can we go?" He asked and she nodded.

"After we get settled, we can walk down and go swimming, deal?"

"Okay deal!" He replied happily.

Mercedes just smiled before getting out and unbuckling him from his seat helping him out. She grabbed their bags before walking up to the beautiful beach house, she looked under the mat and grabbed the spare key opening the door finally letting out a breath she'd been holding in for the past five years.

"Come on baby, let's get our swimming clothes." She said finally giving her son a real smile giggling when he cheered excitedly.

She placed their things into the guest room figuring they would share it while they stayed there, she dug out his swimming trunks telling him to go to the bathroom first before she quickly changed into her swimsuit.

They walked down to the beach and Tyson shot her look seeking permission to get into the water, when she nodded he let go of her hand and ran straight into the water screaming and laughing as she slowly made her way over allowing her tears to fall.

She could breathe and she could be the best mom to her son now. She was tied to a marriage that she didn't want to be in and the only thing she was thankful for was her son. Tyson was the best thing to come from it and the only reason she ran, she couldn't stay under the thumb of her husband anymore.

Mercedes needed change and she knew this was the only time she could take it. School was finally over from him and she would have plenty of time to get established there and file for divorce. She knew she should have told her parents what she was doing but she didn't want them trying to intervene or worse trying to convince her to do things rationally.

She hated when anyone would tell her to think out her actions, she thought about everything that was her biggest issue. If overthinking was a job she'd be a billionaire, she'd over-thought getting with her husband to the point that she blinked and was married. She wasn't even sure how he convinced her to say yes but she did but here she was states away from said husband because... she didn't want to think about why she left.

She looked at her son smiling as he played happily splashing water around wondering if he even noticed that he wasn't there with them. She knew eventually the question would come up and she would have to explain to him why his father wasn't there and why he wouldn't be joining them.

"MJ." She heard behind her making her turn around knowing only one person called her that.

"Jackie!" She said with a sad smile running over giving him a hug. Jack smiled, embracing her hug and allowing her a few moments to cry before he pulled away and giving her a look.

"Jesus MJ, why did you choose now to do this?" He asked with a sigh.

"It was my biggest window." She said looking over her shoulder seeing that Tyson was still playing around.

"He doesn't know you would come here right?"

"He doesn't even know that we were friends... when you signed with his team and called I took it as a sign."

"Well shit. How long do you think you can hide from him? You took his son so he's going to come looking or worse put out a missing report." Jack said, raking his hand over his face.

Mercedes and Jack met in college, she was his tutor and the person that introduced him to his wife. She was kind and always in a good mood which is why they clicked, he never in a million years thought he would have a life long friend out of her but he did.

They kept in contact after he got signed and left school and he even invited her to his wedding but she couldn't attend because she was pregnant at the time but she still sent them a lovely gift. He really valued their friendship but there was one thing that, one tiny flaw that irked his soul about her… she refused to ask for help and when she needed it she wouldn't just take it without some 'sign'.

"Well it's summer and he's still on the road for the next week so that's my time frame as far as filing for divorce and custody… speaking of I need a favor." Mercedes answered, rolling her eyes when he smirked at her.

'You're actually asking for a favor?" He teased before she turned and walked away throwing her hand up.

"Wait! Ha, I'm sorry it's just you never used those words before around me." Jack said, grabbing her arm stopping her.

"I need you to ask your sister not to take his case… I know he'll use the best and she's the best. I can't afford the best so I need a fighting chance."

"Quinn isn't too keen on not taking on a high profile client and your husband is as high as they come." Jack replied, noticing the sad expression across her face. "But that doesn't mean you can't convince her to take you on instead."

"Jack I only left with enough money to get us through summer and maybe a few months after that… I still need to get a job and I can't stay at your beach house the entire time."

"Says who? We never come to it and besides the bills are covered by my parents, we have good schools around here and I'm sure if I put in a word I can get you an interview at the high school." Jack said, putting his hand up when she began shaking her head.

"Before you say no I didn't say I would get you a job I only said an interview and after you get hired you can start paying rent here that way you're not living for free. Now if you actually need a job instantly I happen to know a place in need of a secretary and the pay is more than enough to get you on your feet." Jack added smiling when he saw her contemplating his offer.

"How about you set me up for an interview at both places and I'll do the rest?" She countered.

"Always taking the harder option but I can do that." He said before pulling her into a hug. "Now come on, I wanna meet the little guy before I have to leave."

"I forgot you never got to meet him. Tyson! Come here sweetheart, I want you to meet a friend of mine." She shouted, getting her son's attention.

"Ty this is Jack, we went to school together." She said and Jack just smiled down at the little boy before squatting so he was at eye level.

"Hey there big guy!" Jack said noticing how much he looked like Mercedes but also seeing a little of his dad in him too.

"Hi! Are you coming to play too?" Tyson asked, smiling and Jack couldn't help but laugh. He wasn't remotely shy, which he knew for a fact he'd gotten from his mother.

"Not this time but I promise to come back and we can have a whole day, how's that sound?"

"Cool! Mommy can we have lunch now?"

"Sure baby, let's go see what we can put together something." Mercedes said, grabbing his hand.

"I have to head back but I'll bring Penny and the boys over so they can play. And MJ… don't ever hesitate to reach out again okay?" Jack said, kissing her on the cheek.

"Only my daddy does that." Tyson said furrowing his brows at Jack, making them both laugh.

"Well that's not true because you kiss me on the cheek too." Mercedes countered and Tyson just shot her a look that made her laugh again.

"I'll call you later." Jack said, waving them off and sighing before pulling his phone off and shooting his sister a text.

So we've upped how long our mini's will be ;) Also who the hell she married to?