We Are Young
Keep your face to the sunshine and leave the shadows to themselves
Friday
"Is everything ready?" Sam sat watching his wife moving around the bedroom
"It's ready dear" Mercy turned to smile at him "Mike will be here in a minute"
"Another hour of torture" he rolled his eyes
"And another weeks' worth of mobility" she smiled at him
Flashback
Basketball had been his life; he'd played school, got a scholarship to college, then after that started out as usual, being passed around local teams and eventually when he was 21 he got his big break and finally ending up in the NBA when he was 23. He stayed there for a while, his agent making sure he went where the best deal was, which meant a lot of moving around for him and his wife, who he married when they were 23 after nearly four years of courtship.
For a long while life was good for them, he played, she sang, went on tours every now and again, and somehow they managed to pull together their family, their twin daughters Raye and Robyn survived the upheaval without too many scares. The fifteen years of high life went by so fast and came tumbling down so quickly when he took a fall that injured his back, meaning at times, he'd be confined to a wheelchair.
There was a time of depression of course, and to top all that it hadn't happened at an opportune time, but then accidents rarely do, Mercy was on tour for three weeks, it was her parents turn to have Raye and Robyn for the summer, so they thought they'd got everything covered and then this. Everything went up in the air, tour dates lost, holidays cut short, and at the same time they had to start thinking practically, if Sam wasn't playing there was no need for them to stay in Milwaukee, they had to get their lives set up in LA nearer to family.
While Sam went through his rehabilitation, learning to walk again, managing the pain, and finding another focus, Mercy was tirelessly trying to find somewhere appropriate for them to live, trying to make up missed tour dates, and looking after the girls, they both had their hands full. They didn't think there was room for anything else, but then the phone call came, his dad who hadn't been in good health since his mom had dies some 9 years previous, had passed away quietly in his sleep. Sam was devastated, they both were, but the fact that Sam was laid up in a hospital bed, unable to attend the funeral of his own father brought him lower, suddenly nothing mattered, the future, Mercy or even the girls.
That was by far the hardest seven months of their lives together, it all came to a head eventually, Mercy couldn't cope with the daily hospital visits, driving all over the place for gigs, trying to keep them afloat, coordinating his care, dealing with grief alone, and trying to stay strong for Raye. According to her mother the evening hadn't been going well to start with, Sam had been agitated with Mercy not turning up the previous night, and not bothering to turn up in the morning, he was shouting at everyone refused to do physio and eventually demanded of Judith, his mother-in-law, her phone
"Where are you?" he shouted at Mercy down the phone when she answered
"I'm working" her voice unsure of what was happening "We had this conversation Sam, I told you I wouldn't be able to get there for a day, today"
"So, what happened last night, why didn't you come last night?"
"Because I had to get a flight, I told you"
"I need you to come home, now, I need you here with me" he shouted
"Sam" she gasped "I'm working"
"Is that supposed to be a reminder that I'm not?"
"Sam" her voice telling him she was upset "We agreed I'd do as much as I could while you were in hospital so I could be home more when you come home" she gasped "Remember?"
"So, you still want me home?" he shouted still angry "Because right now it doesn't feel like you want me at all, it feels like you want to forget all about me and this… this"
"Sam"
"Leave me then, if that's what you want why wait till I'm out of here just leave now, don't come back"
"Okay" she told him, her voice was quiet, calm, and maybe even relieved for a second, as she closed the call and took a breath
"Mercy?" he lay looking at the dead phone "She's leaving me" he looked up at her mother standing listening to the call "She's fucking leaving me" he threw the phone across the room
"Sam" Judith hissed at his behaviour
"It's probably for the best, I'll only hold her back"
"Hold her back from what?"
"Her life" he looked at Judith as if she should know that
"Which life is that?"
"Her life" he looked at her embarrassed
"Please tell me you're not saying my daughter is shallow enough to leave the man she loves because of sex?"
"We've always been very active in that department, I can't…" he looked at the bed "This isn't a conversation I need to be having with my mother in law"
"Actually" Judith laughed "Your mother in law knows a thing or two about being active in the bedroom"
"Too much information" he held his hand up "I didn't mean to say all that to her, I'm just looking ahead, and I can't see this life, it's so different to what we had planned"
"If I know my girl, she's already planned out this new life, and her being away now is all part of that" she rubbed his arm "She's really trying, she's got a lot on her plate too, so, cut her some slack" Judith kissed his cheek "She knows how hard this is for you, I know she's just out there making sure things don't have to get any harder, trust her"
"I trust her, but she didn't buy into this, and I don't want her to feel like she has to stay here because of this"
"You know your wife right?"
"I do" he smiled "I owe her an apology"
"You broke my phone" Judith laughed "So, that's going to have to wait until she comes back tomorrow"
"If she comes back"
Judith sat in the chair next to his bed smiling, he hadn't spoken like that for months, a nod, a sharp yes, or no, and a kiss sometimes, was all he'd managed, so the fact that Mercy staying away for the day had made him react was a good thing.
When Mercy came back the following day there were tears, hugs, a sorry, and lots of conversation, they both got things off their chest, Sam finally cried for the loss of his dad, asked to see Raye and Robyn, and for the first time in a while, after what seemed like a very long day, their little family slept in the same room, content.
Four years after the accident, which had seen the family move back to Los Angeles, Mercy slow down on her singing, and the girls go off to college, Sam was finally back up on his feet without aides most of the time, today he was still having physio, because on days he exerted himself he'd know about it, the wheelchair would have to come out for the day or bed rest, but at nearly 55 years old he'd learned to cope with most of the pain, and their new different life.
End of Flashback
They'd got a special weekend planned, it was their friends Rachel and Finn Hudson's 30th wedding anniversary and true to her way of life, they were having an evening of nostalgia, Rachel was all things musical; so, she'd arranged for a few of her close diva friends, along with herself to pay tribute to their lives in the business, by performing some of their favourite pieces.
Sam was having a physio session before they travelled to the venue, as part of his pain control program just as a precaution, he wasn't used to working all day, travelling at night, and then sleeping in a strange bed, and Mercy wasn't taking any chances.
Sam had teamed up with Finn after his accident, Finn was doing some backstage work on sets at the local theatre, it wasn't what he'd planned on doing with his life, but when Rachel got pregnant in their second year of marriage, one of them had to keep their feet on the ground, so he did. They'd struck up a deeper friendship during Sam's first few months of rehabilitation, when they found out that having both played Quarterbacks at some point, they had a mutual love for the game, so when Sam made his decision to be an agent, Finn jumped on board saying he could cover all the travelling that Sam couldn't do. That had been the beginning of a very successful business relationship and personal friendship.
"Thank you" he smiled at her getting him in order, she'd been that way since he'd come home from hospital and for every time he'd thanked her, she'd come back at him with
"Thank you too" he didn't know quite what for, but when she said it, the smile she gave with it made him grateful to be there
"So, I finish this at seven, get ready for nine and we're off?"
"Correct" she turned to look at him "Are you sure you don't want to sing?"
"Do I look like a Diva?" he laughed
"I was hoping you'd bring out Diva Sam, we saw a lot of him back when you were in hospital" she giggled, looking up at the doorbell ringing "That will be Mike" she put down what she had in her hand and went off to open the door "Get yourself together"
He had his session, they caught their flight, sleeping almost the entire six hours to landing, met the limo and went to their hotel for more sleep, they woke up the next morning tired because of too much sleep.
Saturday
Just after breakfast they met up with one of the other couples in town for the party, they were mutual friends to the Hudson's "Mercy" Santana came towards her for a hug
"Santana, Quinn" Mercy smiled hugging them "You remember Sam" she turned to look at him
"Of course," Quinn smiled shaking his hand "I always think you look better in the flesh than in the…"
"Excuse her" Santana butted in looking around the dining room "There's hardly anyone I recognise, do you?"
"Not really" Mercy laughed
"Hopefully we're on the same table" Santana leaned forward to greet her as she whispered in Mercy's ear
"That would be great, I could talk to the prettiest girl in the room all night" Mercy whispered loudly in her ear
"Excuse her" Sam butted in, giving Mercy a look that told her not to play the game
"See you later" Mercy grabbed Sam's arm
"Play nice" Sam grinned at her as they walked off
"That was nice"
"Okay" Sam raised a surprised eyebrow "Maybe it's just been a while" he grinned to himself at her jealous still showing after all this time
"She just always has to make a comment" she snapped
"And you just always have to take the bait" he reminded her "Their fantasy is your reality remember"
After the check in call with Rachel about the order of the evening, they didn't do much for the day, relaxed by the pool, lunched, swam, and eventually started to get ready for the evening. Music was the theme of the evening everyone was dressing ready for the off by 8pm sharp. They walked into the 80s lounge style venue to the band playing familiar show tunes, while people talked, sipped drinks, or found their seats
"Here we go" Sam looked up to see Rachel and Finn getting up on stage
As they'd expected there was a forty five minute conversation around the past, at which nearly everyone in the room had a smile, tear or held their heads in shame as they walked through up to 30 years with the couple, the comfort break came just at the right time, everyone was relieved.
Thirty minutes later and someone was up on stage again, introducing the first act for the night "I've been told we have an hour to get through a full programme, Mr & Mrs Hudson have their night planned" she laughed "So to do introductions and get the show started please welcome to the stage the woman of the hour Mrs Rachel Hudson" she smiled holding her hand out for Rachel to come to the stage
"God, I'll never get through this" Quinn held her chest looking at Santana
"Fake it till you make it" Santana laughed grabbing her wife's hand to get up "Stage is ours" she smiled at Mercy meeting them at the foot of the stage "Break a leg"
"Break one yourselves" Mercy smiled, grabbing the hand waiting to help them onto the stage
"I'd firstly like to send a warm welcome and thank you out to everyone who's made the effort to come out tonight to help us celebrate our 30th anniversary" Rachel smiled at the applause "I've asked a few of my friends to share a stage with me tonight and I'm honoured that Mercy Evans, Santana and Quinn Fabray-Lopez have agreed to help me entertain you all" she smiled at her friends "Our medley of musical delights open with our rendition of 'Someone In The Crowd' by Emma Stone, Callie Hernandez, Sonoya Mizuno & Jessica Rothe, from La La Land one of my favourites" Rachel instructed the song to start as the ladies took their spot
Rachel: You got the invitation Quinn: You got the right address, Santana: You need some medication? Rachel: The answer's always yes
Mercy: A little chance encounter, could be the one you've waited for, Rachel, Santana & Quinn: Just squeeze a bit more…
The audience were singing along by the time the song finished, they stood taking the applause before Mercy, Santana and Quinn sat on the waiting stools, it was Rachel's stage for the next song "Ladies and Gentlemen another favourite, I give you 'You Must Love Me' by Madonna from Evita" she smiled at the band
Rachel: Where do we go from here, this isn't where we intended to be, we had it all, you believed in me I believed in you
Certainties disappear, what do we do for our dream to survive, how do we keep all our passions alive as we used to do….
More applause for the performance followed, there were many things to say that were wrong about the woman, but her given talent wasn't one of them, she was undeniably talented. She stood taking in the applause until the last clap before she turned to smile at Quinn
"Everyone" Rachel smiled "I'd like to invite Quinn Fabray-Lopez to sing this next song with me" she held her hand out for Quinn to grab "It's a favourite of ours called 'You Love Who You Love' by Melissa Van Der Schyff & Laura Osnes from Bonnie & Clyde enjoy"
Quinn: I know my heart, don't care what people say, all I know is that I never felt like this.
And besides, I wouldn't change him if I could, no man's all good.
Rachel: I always knew what I was taking on, but I always felt that I could change his ways.
Even if my man will never fall in line, glad he's mine.
"Thank you" Rachel smiled at Quinn, hugging her
"Well done" Santana hugged her wife as they exchanged seats, it was Santana's turn to sing something, unlike Quinn she wasn't getting a duet just yet "Hi everyone" she smiled at the crowd "I'm Santana Fabray-Lopez, and I've chosen a song that most reminds me of my time with the happy couple called 'This Is Me' by Keisha from The Greatest Showman"
Santana: I'm not a stranger to the dark, hide away, they say, cause we don't want your broken parts
I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars, run away, they say, no one will love you as you are
But I won't let them break me down to dust, I know that there's a place for us, for we are glorious… Everyone: Oh oh, oh, oh, oh oh, oh oh…
"That was great" she smiled at the crowd, applauding them for their input, turning to look at Mercy it was their turn to sing a duet "Ladies and Gentlemen Mercy Evans" she held her hand up watching Mercy step up to join her "We're going to be performing a piece that always brings Rachel to tears called 'When You Believe' by Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey from The King Of Egypt hope you enjoy" they prepared while the crowd applaud
Mercy: Many nights we prayed, with no proof, anyone could hear, in our hearts a hopeful song, we barely understood
Now, we are not afraid, although we know there's much to fear, we were moving mountains, long before we knew we could, whoa, yes…
Santana: Oh-oh-oh, Mercy: Mmm, yeah
Santana: In this time of fear, when prayer so often proves in vain, hope seems like the summer bird, too swiftly flown away
Yet now I'm standing here, my hearts so full, I can't explain, seeking faith and speaking words, I never thought I'd say
There can be miracles, when you believe (Mercy: When you believe), though hope is frail, it's hard to kill (Mercy: Mmm)
Who knows what miracles you can achieve? (Mercy: You can achieve) when you believe, somehow you will, you will when you believe…
The crowd were up before the last chorus, Santana and Mercy were pleased with the delivery, they hugged, Mercy looked at the one person in the room she knew was thinking about the same miracle as her right now, smiling when he blew her a kiss "Thank you" Mercy finally quietened the crowd "This next pick is a family favourite I believe, it's a little thing called 'I Can Hear The Bells' by Nikki Blonski from Hairspray delivered by no other than Quinn Fabray-Lopez" she smiled at Quinn coming forward
Quinn: I can hear the bells, well, don't you hear them chime, can't you feel my heartbeat keeping perfect time?
And all because he touched me, he looked at me and stared, yes, he bumped me, my heart was unprepared…
Quinn hit that song out the ballpark, acting and all, she was down off the stage pulling people out of their seats at her finish, she couldn't help but giggle at the crowds response "I can't believe I did that" she laughed looking at Santana when she got back on stage
"Next song" Santana reminded her
"Oh" she looked back at the crowd "This next song needs no introduction really, but here's Mercy Evans singing her rendition of what we call a signature tune 'I'm Here' by Cynthia Erivo from The Color Purple" she held her hand out for Mercy to take the stage
Mercy: I don't need you to love me, I don't need you to love
I've got.., I've got.., I've got my sister, I can feel her now, she may not be here, but she's still mine, I know she still love me…
"Beautiful" Sam mouthed to his wife as he stood applauding her performance, he didn't think she would after all her comments throughout the day, but she was definitely enjoying the evening, and if she was good, he was satisfied.
"Thank you" she looked into his eyes with her reply as if his opinion was the only one that counted
"Our little show's taken up enough of your dancing time" Rachel was stood beside her telling everyone, "So we'd like to close with our last one of the evening, something we hope will get you all in the mood to enjoy the rest of the evening" she smiled at Santana and Quinn coming forward to join them "It's a group favourite, a little thing called 'Love Is Your Colour' by Jennifer Hudson & Leona Lewis from Sex In The City 2 of course" her hands went up in the air for the music to start
Santana: Ooh ooh hey, Just when you think that it's over, you're hit with a brand new star
Quinn: And you find right there within you that you never lost that spark
Rachel: Love is your colour, it makes you shine, I know I know
Mercy: So, show your colours, it comes from inside, everything else is black and white
Santana (Others): But love is your colour (Be the colour) love is your colour (show your colour) love is your colour(yeah)…
"Thank you for enjoying our little session and enjoy the evening" Rachel smiled as she hugged her friends on stage and watched them leave
"So, I finally get my wife back?" Sam asked her as she walked towards him
"Finally," She sat in the chair next to him
"No" he grabbed her hand "I need some attention now" he smiled pulling her up to dance
"What about your back?" she asked, concern on her face
"My back is fine" he assured her "Come on" he pulled her with him
"This is too fast" she walked with him concern still on her face
"But this one isn't" he nodded for the band start playing again, everyone stopped dancing to look at the stage
"What's going on?" she asked looking at the smiling faces
"A special song by the sound of it" he laughed; their heads turned at Rachel screaming "By our daughters" he laughed
"You didn't?" she laughed watching them walk out on stage "You did" she laughed at him nodding at Finn
"Ladies and Gentlemen a special delivery for the Hudson's from the Evans' I believe this is one that covers quite a few people's heartfelt wishes in the house today" the compare smiled "I give you Raye and Robyn Evans singing their rendition of 'Count On Me' by Whitney Houston & CC Winans from Waiting To Exhale"
Both: Count on me through thick and thin, a friendship that will never end, when you are weak, I will be strong, helping you to carry on
Call on me, I will be there, don't be afraid, please believe me when I say, count on
Robyn: I can see that it's hurting you, I can feel your pain, It's hard to see the sunshine, through the rain, oh
I know sometimes it seems as if, it's never going to end, but you'll get through it, just don't give in cause you can
"They know how to capture an audience" Mercy smiled at their daughters as they slow rocked to the music
"Obviously" Sam laughed "They had a great teacher"
"I love you Mrs Evans" he whispered in her ear pulling her closer
"I love you too Mr Evans" she pulled away to look into his eyes, he'd never noticed it before, which was sad after twenty four years of marriage, but the way she looked at him made him want to remember the moment, and in that second he understood the reason she always said it, she was grateful, just like he was, that they were there, together.
Raye Both: Count on me through thick and thin, a friendship that will never end, when you are weak, I will be strong, helping you to carry on
Call on me, I will be there, don't be afraid, please believe me when I say, count on, (Robyn: You can count on me)
Raye: I know sometimes it seems as if, we're standing all alone, be we'll get through it, cause love won't let us fall
Both: Count on me through thick and thin, a friendship that will never end, when you are weak, I will be strong, helping you to carry on
Call on me, I will be there, don't be afraid, please believe me when I say, count on
Robyn: There's a place inside of all of us, where our faith in love begins, you should reach to find the truth in love, the answers there within, oh
Raye: I know that life can make you feel, It's much harder than it really is, but we'll get through it, Both: just don't give in
Both: Count on me through thick and thin, a friendship that will never end, when you are weak, I will be strong, helping you to carry on
Call on me, I will be there, don't be afraid, please believe me when I say, count on… me
"Hey" Mercy smiled hugging her girls as they came off stage "Conspiring with your dad again" she laughed "That was beautiful" she took their kisses
"Just showing you what…" Robyn grinned
"Your money's paying for" Raye finished her sentence "Get on with your night, we'll speak tomorrow"
"Breakfast?" Robyn suggested
"Breakfast" Mercy agreed
"Where are our grandchildren?" he called after them
"On their way, tomorrow"
"Good" Sam smiled
"Why good?" Mercy looked at him
"I was sort of hoping our bed would see some action tonight" he smiled "And before you ask, I've had extra physio for just that reason" he laughed
"Okay, I guess tonight I'm feeling it" she giggled, resting her head on his chest before she looked up at him again "But.."
"I'm on top" they both told each other laughing
"You moan about your knees too soon"
"And you cry out with pain in your back" she followed his comment up with
"Spoon" they laughed at the decision
"When did we get so old, talking about pain instead of sex?" she looked up at him asking
"Just do like I do and keep your face in the sunshine" he laughed
"And leave the shadows to…" she grinned
"Themselves" they smiled telling each other
"And we'll be young forever" he assured her