Sam and Mercedes sat together on the couch, the soft glow of the screen illuminating their faces as they eagerly waited for Kurt and Blaine to pick up their video call. Mercedes couldn't help but beam at Sam, excitement dancing in her eyes.
"They're going to love seeing us," Mercedes said with a grin, adjusting her position to get more comfortable.
Sam nodded, his own smile widening. "Definitely. It's been too long since we caught up with them."
Just then, the screen flickered to life as Kurt and Blaine answered the call. Their faces appeared on the screen, both of them looking equally thrilled.
"Hey, Sam! Hey, Mercedes!" Kurt greeted enthusiastically, waving at the camera.
Blaine joined in with a bright smile. "So good to see you both! How have you been?"
Mercedes leaned closer to the camera, her voice filled with warmth. "We've been great! Just thought we'd catch up and see how you two are doing."
Kurt leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms playfully. "Oh, you know, living the glamorous life of suburban dads."
Blaine chuckled, shaking his head. "Kurt makes it sound so thrilling. But honestly, we've been good. How about you guys? Any exciting news?"
Sam exchanged a knowing glance with Mercedes before replying. "Actually..."
Mercedes cut in excitedly, unable to contain herself. "We're engaged!" she announced, holding up her left hand to proudly display the sparkling ring.
Kurt gasped in delight, leaning closer to the screen. "Oh my gosh, congratulations, you two!"
Blaine clapped his hands together, his eyes shining with happiness. "That's incredible news! When did this happen?"
Sam grinned, his gaze never leaving Mercedes. "Just last week. It felt like the perfect time."
Mercedes beamed at him, her heart swelling with love. "Absolutely perfect."
Kurt and Blaine exchanged a glance, both of them visibly thrilled for their friends. "We couldn't be happier for you," Kurt said sincerely, his voice tinged with emotion.
Blaine nodded emphatically. "Yes, this calls for a celebration! When can we all get together?"
Sam glanced at Mercedes, a smile spreading across his face. "How about next weekend? We'd love to see you guys in person."
Mercedes nodded eagerly. "Definitely! It'll be so much fun."
Sam and Mercedes found themselves driving to Kurt and Blaine's apartment for another visit. The drive was filled with light-hearted conversation and laughter, their fingers entwined over the center console.
As they pulled up to the familiar building, Mercedes glanced at the sparkling engagement ring on her finger, a smile spreading across her face. They had gotten engaged just a few weeks ago, and the joy of that moment still lingered in her heart. Sam noticed her smile and squeezed her hand.
"You ready to see Tracy?" he asked, his voice full of anticipation.
"Absolutely," Mercedes replied. "I can't wait to see how much she's grown."
They made their way up to Kurt and Blaine's apartment, knocking on the door and hearing the familiar sounds of laughter and baby giggles from inside. Kurt opened the door, beaming at them.
"Come in, come in!" he greeted, stepping aside to let them in.
Blaine was sitting on the floor with Tracy, who was busy playing with a colorful stack of rings. She looked up when she heard new voices, her eyes bright with curiosity. Blaine stood up to greet them, giving Sam and Mercedes warm hugs.
"Look who's here, Tracy!" Blaine said, picking her up and bringing her over. "Say hi to Uncle Sam and Auntie Mercedes."
Tracy gurgled happily, reaching out towards them with chubby little hands. Mercedes' heart melted as she took the baby into her arms, marveling at how much she had grown.
"Hi there, sweet girl," she cooed, bouncing Tracy gently. "Look at you, getting so big."
Sam leaned in, making silly faces that had Tracy giggling. "Hey Tracy, remember us?" he teased, earning more laughter from the baby.
They settled on the floor with Tracy, who was now crawling around with impressive speed. Mercedes spread out a soft blanket and laid out some of Tracy's favorite toys. The baby eagerly grabbed a plush elephant and started chewing on its ear.
"She's teething, isn't she?" Mercedes asked, noticing Tracy's fascination with the toy.
Kurt nodded, sitting down beside them. "Yeah, it's been a bit of a challenge, but she's handling it like a champ."
Blaine joined them on the floor, handing Tracy a colorful teething ring. "Here you go, sweetie. This might help."
Tracy took the ring and gnawed on it contentedly, her big eyes darting between Sam and Mercedes. Sam reached over and picked up a toy piano, pressing a few keys to produce a cheerful melody. Tracy's eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands excitedly.
"You like that, huh?" Sam said, playing another tune. Tracy responded with more clapping and a big smile, her joy infectious.
Mercedes picked up a soft book and began reading to Tracy, her voice animated and full of warmth. Tracy leaned in, her tiny hands patting the pages as Mercedes turned them.
"And the little bunny said goodnight to the stars," Mercedes read, pointing to the illustrations. Tracy's eyes followed her finger, entranced by the pictures and Mercedes' soothing voice.
As the afternoon went on, they took turns playing with Tracy. Sam lay on his back and lifted Tracy above him, making airplane noises that had her giggling uncontrollably. He marveled at how light and delicate she felt in his hands, her laughter a beautiful sound that filled the room.
"Who's a little airplane?" Sam cooed, gently swooping Tracy up and down. "You are! Yes, you are!"
Tracy's giggles turned into a full-blown belly laugh, her little hands waving in the air. Mercedes watched them with a smile, her heart swelling with love. Seeing Sam interact with Tracy like this made her even more excited for their future together.
The day continued with more playtime, laughter, and shared stories. Tracy crawled around, exploring her environment with curiosity. She pulled herself up on the coffee table, wobbling slightly but determined to stand. Blaine reached out to steady her, his eyes filled with pride.
"She's getting so strong," he said, beaming. "Every day she surprises us with something new."
Mercedes sat back, watching Tracy with a mix of admiration and amazement. "It's incredible how quickly they grow and learn. One minute they're tiny and helpless, and the next, they're exploring the world around them."
Sam nodded, his thoughts echoing hers. "It makes you realize how precious each moment is."
As the afternoon turned into evening, Kurt and Blaine prepared a delicious dinner, and they all gathered around the table. The conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter and love. Sam and Mercedes shared their engagement news, and the room erupted in congratulations and excitement.
"We're so happy for you both," Kurt said, raising his glass in a toast. "You two are perfect for each other."
"To Sam and Mercedes," Blaine added, clinking glasses with everyone.
After dinner, they moved back to the living room, where Tracy was getting sleepy. Mercedes held her, rocking her gently as she started to doze off. Sam sat beside her, feeling a sense of peace and contentment.
"You guys are going to make amazing parents someday," Blaine said softly, watching them with a smile.
Mercedes looked at Sam, her eyes filled with love. "One step at a time," she said, echoing their earlier conversation. "For now, we're just enjoying every moment."
Kurt nodded, a knowing smile on his face. "That's the best way to do it. Enjoy the journey."
Back at Mercedes' apartment, they settled on the couch, the warmth of the day still lingering. Sam wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. They sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments, the day's events playing back in their minds.
Sam broke the silence first, a playful grin spreading across his face. "So, seeing Tracy today got me thinking," he began, nudging Mercedes gently. "When do you think we'll be ready to have kids of our own?"
Mercedes laughed, the sound soft and warm. "You're not wasting any time, are you?" she teased, poking him in the ribs. "We just got engaged, and you're already planning for kids."
Sam chuckled, lifting his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, I'm just curious! Seeing Tracy today... it was really special. It made me think about what our future could look like."
Mercedes nodded, her smile softening. "I get it. She's such a joy. But I think we should take our time and enjoy being engaged for a while. Maybe we should focus on planning the wedding first?"
Sam leaned in, kissing her temple. "Fair point. I guess I'm just excited about everything—us getting married, starting a family. It all feels so real now."
Mercedes rested her head on his shoulder, her fingers tracing patterns on his chest. "I'm excited too. But let's take it one step at a time. Maybe we can think about kids after we've been married for a year or so?"
Sam nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Yeah, that sounds good. Gives us time to settle into married life and really enjoy it."
Mercedes lifted her head to look at him, a playful glint in her eyes. "Okay, but when we do decide to have kids, how many do you want?"
Sam considered the question for a moment, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I've always thought maybe three. But honestly, you don't really know until you're actually a parent. What about you?"
Mercedes smiled, her eyes reflecting the same thoughtfulness. "I've thought about it too. Two or three sounds nice. But like you said, it's hard to know for sure until you're in that position."
Sam leaned back, his arm still around her shoulders. "Yeah, it's more about the experience of raising children and creating a family together. The exact number isn't as important as making sure we're ready and that we can provide a loving, stable environment for them."
Mercedes took a deep breath, her tone becoming a bit more serious. "You know, it might take us a while to fall pregnant. There's no guarantee it'll happen right away, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there."
Sam nodded, appreciating her honesty. "Yeah, you're right. We shouldn't stress about it now. Let's just enjoy being engaged and take things as they come."
Mercedes smiled, leaning in to kiss him gently. "Exactly. For now, let's just enjoy this time together. We have so much to look forward to."
They sat there for a while longer, wrapped in each other's arms, both lost in their own thoughts about the future. The conversation had brought them even closer, reinforcing their shared dreams and the love that bound them.
As they eventually drifted off to sleep, Sam's last thought was of the family they would someday create, a family built on the solid foundation of their love and commitment to each other.