Promised you a double update, and here you are! Enjoy!


When Sam arrived at the house, the sun was barely over the horizon. The workers had already started, their steady footsteps filling the space as they worked on replacing the floors. Sam was just about to head to his truck to grab the last of the tools when he noticed someone pacing near the porch, their voice rising in frustration.

It was a Mercedes.

Her hands were clenched tightly at her sides, her body tense. Sam couldn't help but stop in his tracks, watching from a distance. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but as she spoke, her words cut through the morning air.

"Come on, Anthony, don't do this to me," Mercedes said, her voice thick with emotion. "The kids are just getting settled here. We've been through so much already, and now you tell me this?"

Sam felt a pang of sympathy for her, but something about her tone caught his attention. He wanted to respect her privacy, but he couldn't help himself. Something was clearly happening between her and Anthony, and it didn't seem good.

"I don't know what to say, Mercedes," came Anthony's voice, softer now but still strained. "Bree got a new job and asked me to come with her. This is a big opportunity for her, for us."

Mercedes scoffed, shaking her head. "So your kids just don't matter in this equation? They've barely gotten used to everything, and now you're just going to leave? That's 12 hours away by car, Anthony!"

Sam stood frozen, his hand still on the truck's door. He was unwilling to move closer but unable to turn away.

"Oh, so I'm the one abandoning my kids?" Anthony's voice grew more defensive. "You up and left, Mercedes. You ended our marriage and uprooted them all, and now you want me to just let this opportunity go by? If I do that, then I lose Bree, and I am left with nothing!"

"You are left with your kids! Me leaving, that was our choice, Anthony; we weren't happy, I damn sure wasn't, and all you wanted to happen was for me to change while you stayed the same. That's not a marriage." Mercedes shot back, her voice sharp but tired. "We agreed that divorce was the best course of action, and when Roz passed me, moving here was the best choice. I deserved a chance to start over, but I also allowed you to still have a relationship with the kids. You didn't even ask them to come with you."

"Mercedes, I love the kids, but Bree means the world to me, and she never wanted kids in the first place. So that, on top of the fact you'd fight me tooth and nail, is why I didn't ask."

"She doesn't want our children? And you are okay with that?" Mercedes spat.

"Whatever, you take everything out of context." Anthony sighed, clearly frustrated. "I'm going to tell the kids, and it would be nice if you could support me through this, just a little."

"No," Mercedes said firmly, her voice hardening. "I won't make this easier for you. Not this time. You are making a horrible choice, and when your kids hate you for it, that's on you. Not me."

Sam felt a knot tighten in his chest as he watched her standing there with quiet strength. Clearly, she wasn't going to back down, but the weight of the conversation was too much for him to ignore.

Anthony's voice came again, cold and final. "Fine. You do it your way, as always. I am taking the kids to breakfast; we will be back later."

And with that, Sam saw Anthony turn and walk inside the house, the door slamming behind him.

Mercedes stood there, her shoulders slumped as if the conversation had taken all her energy. She closed her eyes briefly, then let out a long breath, her gaze falling to the ground.

Sam waited a beat before slowly approaching her. He didn't know what to say, but he couldn't just stand there any longer.

As he stepped closer, Mercedes turned to face him, the forced smile on her face only halfway believable. "I didn't mean for you to overhear that," she said, her voice quiet.

"It's okay," Sam said softly, his tone sincere. "I don't know what happened between you two, but I know it's been tough. I'm sorry you're going through this."

Mercedes gave him a tired look before sitting on the porch swing. Her legs folded beneath her as she sunk into the seat. The swing creaked slightly as she began to sway back and forth.

"I thought it would get easier," she said, almost to herself. "But it doesn't. The kids are still adjusting, and now this… It just feels like everything's always in turmoil."

Sam moved closer, standing just a few feet away from her, feeling the weight of her words in his chest. "You're doing the best you can, Mercedes. That's all anyone can ask for."

She looked up at him, her eyes a little misty, but she smiled faintly. "I'm trying. I really am. But it's hard to juggle everything. And now he's going to tell the kids that he's moving away, and I get to be the one who deals with the aftermath."

"I know," Sam said, his voice low but steady. "But you're not alone in this. You've got people who care about you. People who want to help."

Mercedes didn't say anything for a moment, but Sam saw her shoulders relax slightly, the tension in her body easing. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Thank you, Sam. I appreciate it more than you know."

Before Sam could say anything else, the front door opened, and the kids came rushing out, each giving Mercedes a quick kiss before heading toward the car. CJ was the first to wave.

"Love you, Mom! Bye, Sam." he shouted as he climbed into the car.

Rome and Kylie followed, the sound of their excited chatter filling the air. Each one gave her a kiss, their faces bright and eager for the day ahead. Mercedes smiled at them, the exhaustion from the earlier conversation momentarily forgotten as she saw them off.

Sam waved to the kids, earning a confused and unwelcome look from Anothony.

As the car drove off, Mercedes stood up from the swing, her gaze lingering on them as they drove off. Sam wanted to say something to make it better.

But for now, he only walked toward her, standing close enough that their shoulders nearly brushed. "If you ever need to talk... or anything, you know where to find me."

She turned to him, her smile a little warmer now but still tinged with exhaustion. "I'll keep that in mind, Sam. Thanks."

He nodded, giving her a small smile of his own. "I'll see you later, Mercedes. Take care of yourself."

With that, Sam turned and walked back toward the workers inside, the weight of their conversation hanging in the air. He didn't want to be the one to fix things, but he couldn't shake the feeling that, somehow, he was exactly where he was meant to be.


An hour later, the sound of the kids slamming the car door shut signaled their return. Mercedes opened the front door and watched as they walked back toward the house, their faces noticeably downcast.

Anthony was already in his car, pulling away without so much as a word. It was like he'd dropped a bomb and left them to clean up the mess.

Mercedes felt a wave of frustration and sadness wash over her. It wasn't just the situation with Anthony; her kids seemed to absorb the weight of it all. They didn't deserve this. And what could she say to them? Their father chose another woman over them. There wasn't any other way to look at it.

"Hey, you okay?" Sam's voice broke through her thoughts, and she turned to see him standing by the porch. His eyes were soft with concern, and he walked over to her without missing a beat.

"Yeah," Mercedes replied, forcing a smile. "Just trying to figure out how to make it better for them."

Sam nodded, his gaze following the kids through the open door as they plopped on the couch sadly. "Well, how would you feel about me helping you to get out of their heads."

Mercedes raised an eyebrow, unsure of what he meant, but Sam only smiled cryptically. "Come on, what can you lose by allowing me to help?"

She sighed. "Fine. What do you have planned?"

Sam smiled brightly. "Get the kids dressed in clothes they wouldn't mind getting ruining and meet me in front of the B in ten minutes. You change, too."

Mercedes side-eyed him and nodded. "Okay, see you soon."

Walking into the house, Mercedes looked at Ky's sad face, tears in her eyes, and steeled herself. "Hey guys."

Rome was the first to speak. "Mom, we will be okay; Dad wasn't really there anyway."

Mercedes' eyes widened. Anthony did the best he could, but he took his family for granted. He would choose to work later or hang with friends, didn't really participate in the family bonding Mercedes did with the kids, and she made excuses for him.

"Look, I know what your dad is doing. It's hurtful. But let's not think about it. Sam has something planned, and he wanted us to get changed. So grab some of those old clothes that you wore when we panted your rooms."

The kids looked at her, hesitating for a moment, but her smiles of encouragement had them standing and going to their rooms.

Mercedes led Ky to hers to help her change before going back to the living room.

Rome was the first to speak, his voice tinged with disbelief. "I'm not sure how putting on old clothes is going to help us feel better," he said.

Mercedes looked at him, her expression softening. "Just trust me. I think you'll understand when we get to the B ."

"If you are making us do manual labor to forget the sadness, I doubt that would work." CJ huffed as they walked out the front door and to the B .

A few moments later, Sam appeared at the door with a grin plastered on his face, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Alright, are we ready?"

"Ready for what?" Rome asked, crossing his arms, still not fully convinced.

Sam's smile grew. "For some fun. Follow me."

They all followed Sam inside, unsure of what to expect. He led them toward the attic, and Mercedes looked around in surprise. The vast room was filled with hundreds of balloons taped to the walls and floating above the floor. The sight was almost comical.

"What is all this?" Mercedes asked, her eyebrows shooting up. "There must be like a hundred balloons in here!"

Sam laughed, clearly excited. "A little more than a hundred. Stevie and the guys helped me fill them with paint and water. And since we are taking the floors out up here tomorrow, and they're not salvageable, I thought we'd have a little fun."

Mercedes blinked, unsure whether to laugh or be confused. "You filled them with... paint and water?"

"That's right," Sam grinned, grabbing a box full of darts.

Mercedes' eyes widened as she realized what he was getting at. "Wait a minute... are you suggesting we throw darts at the balloons?"

Sam nodded, his grin widening. "Exactly. It's a perfect way to let out some frustration. You can throw the darts at the balloons and just... let go of the sadness and anger. Get it all out."

Rome crossed his arms and stared at Sam, slightly incredulous. "Seriously? You want us to just... pop balloons?"

"Yes," Sam said firmly, tossing a dart into the air and catching it. "You guys were dealt a messed up deal, and I know how easy it is to let it break you, so we are going to have fun. It's not just about popping the balloons. It's about releasing the emotions. Trust me. It'll help."

Mercedes watched as Sam handed her a dart with a confident smile. She sighed, shaking her head, but decided to humor him. "Alright, alright," she muttered, stepping forward.

With a deep breath, she hurled the dart at the wall, and it hit the first balloon with a satisfying pop. A small laugh escaped her lips as the paint-splattered against the wall, splashing a vibrant color.

Rome raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Okay, okay, I'll give it a shot."

He grabbed a dart and threw it at the next balloon, popping it cleanly. The satisfaction was evident on his face as the water splashed out.

CJ stepped forward eagerly. "Me next!" he said, his voice bubbling with excitement.

He threw his narrowly missed dart and landed harmlessly on the floor. "Ah, I almost had it!" he exclaimed, but Sam just smiled and shook his head.

"Don't worry, buddy," Sam said, bending down and picking up Kylie. He placed her close to the wall, handing her a dart. "Here, you're next."

Kylie's face lit up with excitement as she held the dart in both hands. With a giggle, she tossed it at the closest balloon, and it popped with a loud burst. The kids cheered, and Mercedes couldn't help but smile. The tension of the morning lifted as the laughter filled the room.

The kids each grabbed more darts and tossed them at the balloons, and it was clear after a few rounds that they were no longer thinking about their father.

The room was alive with energy, each dart hitting a balloon and releasing a burst of color and sound. Laughter echoed through the attic, and for the first time that day, Mercedes felt the heaviness in her chest begin to lift.

At that moment, it felt like they were just another family, having fun together, free from the weight of their worries, and Sam was such a big part of that.


After what felt like hours of laughter, dart throws, and balloon pops, everyone eventually began to tire. The attic was now covered in colorful paint splatters, but the air was light and full of laughter. The kids had all started to wind down, their earlier frustration replaced by exhaustion and smiles.

"Alright, alright," Mercedes said, clapping her hands as the last balloon popped. "Time to clean up. Get ready for movie night!"

The kids cheered, their energy still high as they scampered off to get ready for the next phase of the evening. Sam smiled as he watched them, feeling a contentment that had been lacking for a while. It wasn't just about the fun of the day—it was about seeing how quickly Mercedes' kids were starting to feel at home here, how much they had come to trust him already. It made the whole evening worth it.

As Mercedes helped Sam get up all of the tarps and plastic, it went quickly, and they headed out toward the main house. "Hey, Sam," Mercedes said, catching his attention as he turned toward her. "You are joining us for movie night!"

Sam raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Am I? What movie are we watching?"

"Mighty Ducks," Mercedes said, already heading toward the front door. "You're in for a treat."

Sam laughed, clearly amused. "Alright, I'll bite. I have a change of clothes in the car, so I won't get paint all over the place."

Mercedes nodded. "You know you can use the shower to change if you want."

Sam stopped in his tracks. "You sure? I don't want to put you out."

Mercedes smiled, her expression soft. "No trouble at all. Go ahead. I'll use one of the other ones. Come on."

Sam smiled, grabbed his bag, and followed her inside the house.

Thirty minutes later, as Sam walked into the living room, he smiled, seeing that Mercedes had already set up the couch with blankets and pillows, and the kids were eagerly waiting.

There were two bowls of popcorn, a big bowl of what they called taco dip, and chips. A cooler sat on the side of the sofa, and inside was ice, water bottles, sodas, and juice.

Sam moved next to Mercedes as the familiar opening credits of Mighty Ducks were cued up on the screen.

"Alright, let's get this show on the road!" Sam said, plopping down onto the couch. The kids eagerly grabbed their spots, and Mercedes settled in beside Sam once again, feeling like this was how it was supposed to be.

The movie played on, but soon enough, the soft sounds of the movie gave way to the even softer sounds of the kids drifting off. First, CJ fell asleep, his head slowly nodding against the arm of the couch. Then Kylie curled up, resting her head against Sam's shoulder. The weight of the day and the fun had worn them out.

Mercedes sat up slowly as the credits rolled, careful not to wake the kids. She smiled at the sight of them, their faces peaceful and content. She reached over to gently adjust CJ's blanket and brushed a strand of hair from Kylie's face.

Sam stood up, giving her space as he stretched. "I can take CJ to bed if you want."

"That would be great. Thank you," Mercedes said softly, her voice full of gratitude. She turned to Rome. "Rome, sweetie, can you help Ky get to her bed?"

Rome nodded without complaint. "Yeah, no problem, Mom."

As they both walked down the hall with the younger kids, they put them in their beds. After Rome came out, saying goodnight to Mercedes, she turned to pick up things. Sam returned to the living room and began to help gather up blankets and pillows.

After a few moments, he stopped looking at her. "Mercedes," he said quietly, his voice low. She paused and looked up at him, surprised he'd spoken. "Thank you. For letting me be part of this tonight."

She smiled at him, her eyes meeting his for a long moment. "No, thank you. Today could have been so bad, but you changed it. The kids had a great time. It really helped take their minds off everything, especially after... well, you know."

Sam nodded, his expression softening as he crossed the room to help her. "You're welcome. They're good kids."

Mercedes picked up a few more things, and Sam watched her, noticing how she was trying to push the exhaustion from her face. But there was a sadness there, a quiet weight in her eyes that he couldn't ignore.

Sam moved closer as she loaded the last of the dishes into the dishwasher, his presence behind her steady and comforting. She didn't seem to notice him at first, but when she straightened up, he was right there, standing just inches away.

"Mercedes," he said softly, his voice filled with empathy. "You're doing the best you can. You don't have to do it all alone."

Without saying another word, he stepped forward and pulled her into a hug. It wasn't forceful or urgent, just a gentle, grounding embrace. Mercedes stiffened at first, but then she relaxed into him, her arms slowly wrapping around his back. She let out a shaky breath as if she had been holding it in for too long.

For a few moments, they stood there, the weight of everything between them seeming to fade.

Finally, she pulled away, looking up at him, her face so close to his that he could feel the heat of her breath on his skin. Her eyes searched his face for a moment, and neither of them could resist it. All the tension and unspoken emotions seemed to collide in that moment as they leaned in.

Their lips met in a kiss—soft, lingering, filled with an energy neither of them had expected but both had wanted. It was a kiss full of promise, of unspoken feelings, and the kind of connection they had both been denying, whether out of fear or uncertainty.

After a long moment, they slowly pulled away, their foreheads touching. Both of them breathed deeply as if they had just surfaced from something deep and quiet.

Sam spoke first, his voice hoarse. "I should go."

Mercedes nodded, her fingers still lightly resting on his chest. "Yeah... it's late."

Sam stepped back, his eyes lingering on her. "Good night, Mercedes. I'll see you tomorrow."

She smiled softly, watching him as he reached for the door. "Good night, Sam. And thank you again... for everything."

He nodded and left, closing the door softly behind him. Mercedes stood there for a moment, her heart still racing, the evening's quiet intimacy hanging in the air.