Enjoy!
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Sam asked looking at Mercedes who was looking back at him intensely making him smirk.
"If it wasn't sure I wouldn't have said I wanted to do it, so quit stalling and just do it!" She responded nudging him slightly.
"Okay everyone heard her right? There's proof of her saying it, dad you're recording right?" Sam asked as he looked over his shoulder at his dad smiling and nodding before looking back at Mercedes who rolled her eyes at him.
"I swear if you get it in my hair I will end you." Mercedes warned before flashing him a sweet smile.
"Okay start the count down!" Mary, Sam's mother shouted to everyone and they all started counted down from ten.
"THREE, TWO, ONE!" Everyone shouted and Sam shot Mercedes a mischievous smile before squeezing the black balloon he had in his hand until it exploded all over Mercedes.
She was dressed in a simple white dress that she was now completely splattered in pink paint making her scream excitedly, she jumped up and down before wrapping her arms around Sam kissing him laughing when she smashed a balloon onto his back making him wince.
"You didn't think I was the only one getting covered in paint did you?" She said laughing more when he shot her a fake angry look before smiling at her.
"I'm going to remember that tonight, when your feet hurt and want someone to rub them." He joked grabbing a napkin and wiping the small splatters that got onto her face.
"Congratulations! You're giving me a grand-daughter and I just can't wait to meet her, you two are going to be amazing parents!" Mary said pulling Mercedes into a tight hug. "Do you mind if I borrow my son for just a minute?"
"Of course, I'm going to talk to Tina." Mercedes said smiling and walking away, Mary waited until she reached Tina before turning around to her still smiling son.
"Sam-"
"Not today mom, it's a good day she isn't crying and she is smiling." Sam said already knowing where the conversation was going.
"Did you at least invite them?" Mary asked in a hushed tone.
"Yes, I sent them invitations to everything we've had since we moved here. They never get back and her mother stopped answering her calls, look she's happy and that's all I can ask for right now. I don't want her to be stressed right now and mentioning them right now while her emotions are literally uncontrollable… no I won't do that." Sam said, sighing careful not to run his hands through his hair.
"I'm just saying you two have pushed this back three times and I know she wanted her mother here." Mary said sympathetically.
"We'll there's not much I can do about that, now can I go kiss my pregnant wife?" Sam asked, smiling at his mother sweetly making her laugh.
"I only ask because she's family now and I just want you both to know we will always be here for the both of you." Mary said, hugging her son before walking away. Sam walked over to where Mercedes and Tina were standing and as he got closer he could hear the tone in her voice.
"… I just don't want him to think my reasoning is crazy but I want to at least see my mom before we have her. I just want to make sure she's okay but I don't want to put Sam in an uncomfortable situation with my father..." Mercedes said, trying not to cry.
"Then we'll go see her." Sam said, making her turn around with a surprised expression. "Baby, I've been sending your parents invites to all of our events so if going to see them will make you happy then we'll go."
"Wait, what you've been sending them invitations?"
"I know your father doesn't care for me but your mother has always been nothing but welcoming to me and like it or not they're your family and will be our child's grandparents. So we can go but the second it gets to where I no longer feel like it's safe for you we will be leaving." Sam said, kissing her gently.
"I just want to see my mom and give her a chance to see me… before we have this little bean." Mercedes said, smiling up at Sam.
"Okay baby we'll go." Sam said smiling.
"Okay are you sure about this?" Sam asked as they pulled into her parent's driveway. They decided to wait a few weeks before making the drive down to Lima and based on the nervous expression on Mercedes' face she wasn't entirely certain this was the best idea.
"I just need a minute to gather my courage, I know I have no reason to feel bad but I do… it's like I know I didn't do anything wrong but he will always make me feel like I did."
"Mercedes you haven't done anything wrong! You chose your own happiness and that is the bravest thing anyone can do, you can't live for anyone but yourself. Just know the second he says anything out of line we will be leaving, you're under enough stress as is and I refuse to let him put any more." Sam replied and she nodded with a small smile getting slightly turned on by his tough guy act.
"Okay baby, I think I'm ready." She said and he nodded before getting out and going to help her out of the truck, they walked up the steps and rang the doorbell waiting for someone to answer. Mercedes felt butterflies going into overdrive when she heard the familiar click of the locks and when the door opened she couldn't stop the tears from falling.
"Oh sweet baby girl! Look at you, you look so beautiful." Yvonne said pulling her daughter into a tight hug crying because she didn't know when she would be able to see her daughter in person again let alone hug her while she was pregnant.
"Hey moma. I missed you." She said finally pulling away looking at her mother, noticing her hair was slightly graying now.
"Mrs. Jones." Sam said with a warm smile before giving her a hug.
"Come in, I want you to tell me everything." Yvonne said, stepping aside for them.
Mercedes looked at Sam before walking inside."It's so lovely to see you, Mercedes, and you too, Sam. And look at this baby bump!" Yvonne exclaimed, gently touching Mercedes' swollen stomach.
The trio moved into the living room, a familiar space filled with memories of Mercedes' childhood. Yvonne kept her home immaculately clean, and the aroma of her famous apple pie wafted from the kitchen. Yvonne had baked it in anticipation of their arrival, though she hadn't really expected them to show up.
As they settled onto the plush couch, Mercedes noticed a few changes — photographs that featured her as a child were now replaced with recent pictures of her parents. It was as if her entire existence in that house had been erased.
Sam could sense her mother's discomfort and gently squeezed her hand to offer reassurance. "So, how have you been, Mom?" Mercedes asked.
Her mother smiled weakly. "Same old, same old. Just keeping busy. Your father has been working a lot more lately, but that's about it. How about you? Is there a wedding in your future?"
Sam and Mercedes exchanged a knowing look and grinned at each other. "Actually, we've been married for six months," Sam replied.
Yvonne tried to hide her sadness. "That's wonderful! I bet you were a beautiful bride..." Her voice trailed off as she choked up. "I hate that I couldn't be there to walk you down the aisle."
Mercedes squeezed Sam's hand before letting out a sigh. "We sent you an invitation, you could have come."
"I know, but your father forbid it. He flew into a rage and I was scared to even bring it up again."
"But we got married in the middle of the day, I purposely chose a time when he would be working. You could- no, you should have come!" Mercedes exclaimed, wiping away a tear from her cheek.
"I'm sorry, Mercedes," Yvonne said, her voice full of regret. "I should have. But your father... he's not a man I can easily defy."
Sam jumped in then, his voice steady despite the anger brewing inside him. "You shouldn't have to live in fear, Yvonne. No one should. Mercedes and I want you to be part of our family's life, especially now with the baby on the way. It's not fair to any of us if we have to continue hiding."
There was silence for a moment as Yvonne absorbed his words. Then, she reached out for Mercedes' hand, and said with a firmness that took both Sam and Mercedes by surprise, "You're right. You're absolutely right."
Suddenly, the front door creaked open and the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the room. The trio froze as a shadow fell across them. Yvonne let go of her daughter's hand like it was hot and instantly rose to her feet, her features going from determined to panicked in a split second.
"Nathan's... he's home early," she stuttered, glancing nervously at the door. Sam instinctively moved closer to Mercedes, his eyes darting between Yvonne and the advancing figure of Nathan Jones.
"Who's car is that out front?" The gruff voice of Nathan echoed in the silence of the room. His gaze landed on his daughter and Sam, both sitting on his couch but his face remained impassive. "Mercedes," he said curtly, ignoring Sam completely.
"Dad," Mercedes said tentatively, swallowing her fear and rising up from the sofa. No matter how much she had grown or how far she had gone, this man still had a way of reducing her to a scared little girl. She walked over to Nathan, Sam's eyes never leaving her. "We were just visiting mom."
Nathan looked impassively at his daughter before shifting his gaze to Sam. "I can see that," he said, his voice as icy as a winter's storm. He moved past her, heading towards the kitchen, his broad shoulders almost filling the doorway. "Yvonne, I need a word."
Mercedes watched as her mother hurried after him, casting a worried glance back at them. She took a deep breath and turned to Sam who was watching her with concerned eyes. "It's going to be okay," she said, more for herself than him. "I can handle him."
With a nod, Sam stood up from the couch and reached for her hand. "We'll handle him together," he replied confidently.
In the kitchen, they could hear hushed whispers punctuated by Nathan's gruff voice. Yvonne emerged after a few minutes, her face pale but composed. Sam squeezed Mercedes' hand tightly as she walked back into the living room.
"Mercedes," Yvonne started, her eyes flicking towards the kitchen door, "your father... he wants to talk to you. Alone."
Mercedes froze, her eyes widening slightly. Sam's grip on her hand tightened even more and he looked at Yvonne with clear concern. "Are you sure that's a good idea? I don't want Mercedes upset-"
A steely determination filled Mercedes' eyes as she gently extracted her hand from Sam's grasp. "It's okay, Sam," she reassured him. "I can handle my father."
Sam seemed less than convinced but nodded nonetheless, pressing a comforting kiss onto her forehead before stepping back.
With one last glance at Sam, Mercedes crossed the room towards the kitchen door, her steps slow and measured. As she passed Yvonne, she squeezed her mother's arm reassuringly, trying to hide the nervousness that was threatening to overcome her.
Inside the kitchen, Nathan was standing by the window, his hands clenched tightly around a mug of black coffee. He didn't turn as she entered, his broad silhouette framed by the afternoon light filtering in through the glass. Mercedes took a deep breath, the sound echoing in the silence of the kitchen and she walked over to join her father by the window.
"You've grown," Nathan said, his voice gruff as he finally turned to look at her. His eyes were devoid of warmth as they met hers. He seemed to be studying her, looking for something that perhaps he had never seen before.
"I have," she replied evenly, meeting his gaze. She took a moment to study him too; he looked older now, lines etched into his once smooth skin and there was a grey tinge to his hair she hadn't noticed before.
"And you're pregnant," he continued, glancing down at her rounded belly. There was no joy in his voice.
"Yes," Mercedes stated simply, laying a protective hand on her stomach. "I am."
Nathan sipped his coffee, studying her over the rim of his mug. "You let that good for nothing man ruin your future." He spat. "I had you set for life and you just had to run off with that fool."
"He didn't ruin my future," Mercedes replied, her voice steady, though her heart was pounding in her chest. "He is my future."
Nathan put his mug down with a thud that reverberated through the kitchen, breaking the tense silence. "He is nothing but a low-life scumbag who took my daughter away from me. You could've had everything, Mercedes. Everything you ever wanted."
"But I didn't want that life, daddy," she said softly. "And Sam... he didn't take me away from you. I left on my own. And for the record, I have everything I've ever wanted with him."
Nathan's face contorted into a bitter scowl. "So you're happy playing house with him and throwing away everything your mother and I worked hard to provide?!"
"It's not about money or material possessions! It's about being happy, at peace, and feeling loved. You tried to force me to marry for your benefit, you told Shane I would give him children when I didn't even know him! I'm sure you would've let him rape me if that meant you got what you wanted. You viewed me as a possession and not your daughter!"
Nathan slammed his hands on the table, causing her to flinch. "NO! YOU INSISTED ON LETTING THAT PIECE OF SHIT FILL YOUR HEAD WITH FANTASIES!"
Mercedes started to reply but Sam came into the room, frowning. "Mercedes' let's go." He said calmly, though he was fuming.
Nathan turned his cold gaze onto Sam. "What I'm discussing with my daughter is none of your business," he growled, his voice like ice.
Sam held his ground, a protective arm curling around Mercedes' shoulders. "What affects Mercedes, affects me," he countered.
Mercedes looked up at Sam, her eyes filled with gratitude for his unwavering support. But she knew she had to be the one to confront her father. Gently, she stepped out of Sam's embrace and faced Nathan.
"Dad," she began, her voice steady despite the trembling in her heart. "I chose Sam because he loves and respects me for who I am. He doesn't try to control me or manipulate my future for his own benefit."
Silence descended upon the room once again, heavy and suffocating. Nathan stared at his daughter for a long moment before finally speaking up.
"You'll regret this, Mercedes," he said, his voice carrying an ominous undertone.
"No, I won't," Mercedes replied, her voice firm. "If anything, I'll regret not leaving sooner."
Nathan's eyes hardened, his face growing stony. "I did everything for you," he said, his voice low and strained. "Everything to give you the best of the world."
"And I never asked for any of it," Mercedes retorted. "All I wanted was your love and understanding. Not the wealth or the status. But you chose those over me."
Sam stepped forward again, moving conscientiously between Nathan and Mercedes. He felt the tension in the room thicken as Nathan fixed a venomous gaze on him.
"You'll suffer for this," Nathan threatened, his words directed towards Sam.
"Maybe," Sam responded calmly, matching Nathan's intensity without a hint of fear in his eyes. "But every moment with Mercedes is worth it."
Nathan scoffed but didn't say anything more. Sam took that as his cue to lead Mercedes out of the
kitchen, her hand clasped firmly in his. He could feel the tremble in her fingers, the anxiety of the confrontation still lingering.
Outside, the sun was starting its descent, casting long shadows across the yard. Sam led Mercedes to their car parked at the end of the driveway. "Are you okay?" he asked as he helped her into the passenger seat.
Mercedes nodded, a faint smile gracing her face. "I'm fine," she said and Sam knew she meant it. He could see the relief in her eyes, a weight lifted from her shoulders after standing up to Nathan.
As Sam started the car, Mercedes looked back at the house one last time. Her parents stood by the window, their silhouettes dark against the backdrop of their grand home. A pang of sadness hit her as she saw Yvonne's wavering figure next to Nathan's solid form. She wished things could've been different but knew in her heart that this was for the best.
As the car pulled away, Mercedes took one last look at the house she once called home. But it no longer felt like that - home was with Sam, and their unborn child. Turning her gaze forward, she squeezed Sam's hand and tried to settle the turmoil within her.
"Thank you," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sam glanced at her, his eyes warm. "For what?"
"For... for being there. For standing up to my father. For loving me," she replied, her voice trembling as emotions threatened to overcome her.
Sam smiled softly. "That's not something you need to thank me for, Mercedes. I love you more than anything."
She returned the smile, feeling a warmth wash over her and melt away the chill of Nathan's hurtful comments. Sam reached out and held her hand tightly. "Come on, let's go make our home perfect for our little one."
"Definitely," she replied with a gentle rub of her belly. "Let's do it."
her parents ain't shit