Hey guys! I have an update for you! I know you love them and need them, and trust me, if I could sit here all day and get paid to write fanfiction, I would! Enjoy!
Sam stood outside Mercedes' door; Chloe balanced on his hip as he hesitated before knocking. His mind raced with all the reasons this was a bad idea, but before he could reconsider, the door opened.
Wearing hip-hugging jeans and an off-the-shoulder grey T-shirt, Mercedes greeted him with a warm smile.
"Good morning," she said, her voice light. "What's up?"
Sam shifted awkwardly, holding up a bag of clothes for Chloe. "Uh, Simon had to run out, and… I was wondering if you could help me." He gave her a sheepish smile, looking slightly out of his element.
Mercedes chuckled softly, stepping aside to let them in. "Sure, come on in." She walked toward the living room. "I was just finishing Ky's hair."
Sam followed her, glancing over to see Ky sitting on a purple chair with a big cushion, her hair tied into neat pigtails with colorful barrettes. He smiled as Chloe wriggled in his arms, squirming to get down.
"Pretty!" Chloe exclaimed, running over to Ky and gently grabbing one of her pigtails. Her eyes were wide with fascination.
Mercedes smiled, clearly amused. "Chloe is such a sweet girl," Mercedes said, grabbing a small fruit cup from the table and handing it to Chloe. "Here, I made one for Ky earlier. It has grapes, strawberries, apple slices, and blueberries."
Sam let out a sigh of relief. "Luckily, Chloe has no food allergies, so she will enjoy it."
Mercedes nodded as she went back to finishing Ky's hair. "That's always a plus, kids not having allergies," she said, her fingers moving skillfully through her daughter's hair. Once Ky's pigtails were in place, adorned with the rest of the colorful accessories, she glanced at Sam. "So, what's the issue?"
Sam scratched the back of his neck, feeling a little embarrassed. "I can't figure out what to dress her in. I'm pretty hopeless with these things."
Mercedes nodded. "Well, how about you go grab her options? Then you can let Chloe help you decide." Mercedes suggested.
Sam nodded, running across the hall and returning with three outfits. "Ok, so Chloe, what would you like to wear?" He asked as he held up the clothes, spreading them on the coffee table. Chloe immediately pointed to a purple jumpsuit with flowers and a matching white and purple shirt. Her little fingers brushed the fabric, and she nodded her approval.
"Looks like she made her choice," Mercedes remarked with a grin.
Sam smiled at Chloe's decisiveness and reached for the outfit. He started moving toward dressing her but paused, looking unsure.
Mercedes glanced up from Ky, noticing his hesitation. "You've got to get used to it, Sam. You're her dad. Changing her clothes comes with the job."
Sam nodded, though the vulnerability in his eyes was apparent. He gently helped Chloe into her outfit, buttoning and adjusting everything as carefully as he could manage.
As Ky left the chair she was sitting in, Chloe toddled over to it, sitting down and holding up a lock of her own hair. "Me next," she said, looking up at Mercedes expectantly.
Sam sighed, leaning back into the couch. "How do you get her to talk? She barely speaks to me."
Mercedes smiled softly, wrapping her arms around Chloe before nodding. "Yes, you are next." She looked at Sam. "She just needs to feel comfortable. Give her time." She brushed Chloe's hair back with care, and the little girl relaxed immediately under her touch.
Ky, now fully dressed in a pink Princess Tiana top and matching pants, twirled in front of Sam. "Look, Sammy!" she said proudly, showing off her outfit.
"Wow, you look like a real princess, Ky," Sam said, grinning at her. His eyes flicked back to Mercedes as she brushed and styled Chloe's hair in the same pigtails Ky's were in. "I don't know how you do it."
Mercedes glanced at him and smiled. "I'll show you how," she offered. Every dad should know how to do his daughter's hair. It's essential, and it helps you bond."
Sam watched quietly for a moment, absorbing the way Mercedes worked so gently but confidently, the way Chloe responded so naturally to her. He cleared his throat, feeling the weight of his earlier actions. "Mercedes… why are you being so nice? After everything…"
Mercedes paused, meeting his eyes with a calm but firm expression. "For Chloe, she deserves the best, and that includes her dad stepping up." She gave him a pointed look. "And besides… everyone deserves a second chance."
Sam felt a knot tighten in his chest as he watched her. Something about the way she was with Chloe and Ky made him want to be better.
"Thank you, Mercedes. I am trying. Si and I were going to try to grab her the things you suggested, but something went down at the firehouse."
"Ky and I were just going to run errands today; if you want, I can show you."
Sam smiled. "Thank you; I appreciate that…" He looked down at his pajama pants. "If you let me change," he asked.
Mercedes nodded. "Sure, Chloe can stay here if you don't mind. Oh, and grab a change of clothes. I have some snacks I can add for her."
Sam stared at her for a moment. "Thank you, I will be right back."
Sam pushed the cart slowly through the aisles, his attention divided between Mercedes and the girls sitting in the toy car attached to the front of the cart. Chloe and Ky giggled at something, their laughter filling the store as they pretended to drive, their tiny hands gripping the plastic steering wheels.
"They love this thing," Sam said, smiling as he watched them.
"They sure do; Ky has this little Barbie Corvette at the firehouse; she torments all the guys with it," Mercedes replied, glancing fondly at the girls before leading Sam toward the personal care section for kids. "Alright, so here's everything you're going to need." She reached for a bottle on the shelf. "This is the Dr. Teal's 3-in-1 I told you about last night."
Sam nodded. "It works as a bubble bath, shampoo, and body wash. I remember. So is it best to use this, or should I get shampoo?"
"Ky has good hair, which she gets from her dad, and this works for her. So it will work for Chloe; when she gets older, you can add more."
Sam took the bottle from her, nodding as she continued. "And over here is the face guard I used. Trust me, it helps. Oh, and here are color-changing tablets. On those days she doesn't want to bathe, add one of these, and she will get excited."
"So it's like a bath bomb for kids?" Sam asked,
Mercedes smiled. "Yeah."
He watched her as she moved through the aisle easily, grabbing lotions and hair supplies. "Here are the barrels. You want to get many different colors to match her outfits. Same with bows and headbands. Oh, here you need this plastic tote to put all her supplies in. Trust me."
Sam stared at her for a moment. "How did you do it, Mercedes?"
She paused and looked at him, a question in her eyes. "Do what?"
"Raising Kylie on your own," he clarified, his voice softer now. "After losing Kyle... I know my situation isn't the same, but how did you manage?"
Mercedes' gaze shifted to the girls in the cart. Ky leaned over, whispering something to Chloe, and they both giggled. Mercedes smiled gently, though a flicker of sadness passed across her face.
"It wasn't easy," she admitted, her voice low. "I was scared out of my mind, especially in the beginning. But I knew Ky needed me, and that was all that mattered. She gave me a reason to keep going. Plus, I wasn't alone, and neither are you."
Sam swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her words. "Kyle was lucky to have you," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.
Mercedes blushed at the compliment, glancing away for a moment. Their eyes met again, and for a brief second, it was just the two of them—sharing an understanding, a connection neither of them had anticipated. The moment lingered until a familiar voice broke through the air.
"Well, well, look who it is."
Mercedes groaned quietly, rolling her eyes as Jordan, the guy Simon had set her up with, strolled up to them with a smug grin.
Before Sam could react, Jordan slid beside Mercedes, throwing his arm around her waist and pulling her close.
"Hey, beautiful," Jordan said, leaning in, his grip firm. "Miss me?"
Mercedes jerked away, shoving him off her. "Don't touch me," she snapped, her tone icy.
Jordan raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed. "C'mon, you know you liked it."
Mercedes glared at him before grabbing Sam's arm and pulling him closer. "Actually, I didn't. And besides..." she glanced up at Sam with a pleading look. "My boyfriend here is very jealous."
Sam blinked in surprise, raising an eyebrow at her sudden claim, but he quickly caught on when he saw the look in her eyes. She needed him to play along.
"Sam Evans, pleasure to meet you." Sam said, looking at Jordan.
Jordan scoffed. "Yeah, whatever. So Mercedes, come tell me what I can do to get another date?" He pulled her to him again.
Sam grew angry at the man trying to push up on someone he was trying to be a friend to. Without a word, he leaned in and kissed her softly, then deepened the kiss just enough to make it believable.
That, however, was a mistake.
When he pulled back, it took everything he had to tear his eyes away from her so he could shoot a cold stare at Jordan. "You heard her. She isn't interested. Now get lost."
Jordan scoffed, his bravado slipping slightly. "Alright, alright, no need to get hostile." He threw his hands up in surrender, backing away. "See you around, Mercedes."
"God, I hope not." She said as Jordan disappeared down the aisle.
Mercedes let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Thanks," she murmured, her cheeks still flushed from the kiss. "I am so killing Simon and Quinn."
Sam glanced down at her, one corner of his mouth lifting into a smirk. "I take it they were the ones who introduced you to the loverboy over there?"
Mercedes ran her hand through her hair. "Yeah, I thought I was ready to date...he proved me wrong."
"And the only way to get rid of him was for me to pretend to be your boyfriend?"
Mercedes gave a half-smile, still flustered. "It was the only way I could think to get rid of him."
"Well," Sam teased, "if you ever need a fake boyfriend again, I'm your guy."
Mercedes laughed, the tension breaking as she pushed the cart forward. But as they continued shopping, a small part of her couldn't help but linger on the feeling of that kiss.
"Thanks for that," Mercedes said, still a little flushed. "I mean it; you have no idea how often I've dealt with that guy."
"I think I've got a pretty good idea now," Sam said with a half-smile, glancing at her. "But hey, you were right about him. That guy needed a reality check. Why would Si hook you up with him?"
"I really don't know." Mercedes laughed softly, but something in the way her eyes flickered over to him made Sam's chest tighten. He tried to brush it off, but as they continued down the aisle, he struggled to ignore how she made him feel.
It was a feeling he wasn't used to, a feeling of vulnerability and uncertainty, but not entirely unwelcome.
The rest of the shopping trip went by in a blur. Sam focused on picking up the right items while Mercedes guided him with the ease of someone who'd been doing this for years. The way she moved so naturally with the girls made him think about his own shortcomings but also about how much she had to offer.
When they reached the checkout, Sam couldn't help but glance at her one last time, a new understanding in his gaze. He owed her more than just thanks. He owed her... respect. And maybe, just maybe, something more than that.
"Well, this shopping trip was... unexpected," Sam said quietly, glancing at her as they loaded the items onto the counter.
Mercedes raised an eyebrow, catching his gaze. "You're not mad at me, are you?"
"Mad because?"
"Well, you had to kiss me to cover my lie." She said softly.
Sam shook his head, his lips curling into a faint smile. "No. I am not mad about that. To be honest, I think I owe you a lot more than just a thank you."
She seemed to study him for a moment before her expression softened. "You're doing your best, Sam. That's all you can do. Chloe is lucky to have you."
"Yeah, well... she's lucky to have you too," Sam replied, his voice filled with sincerity. "You've been a big help. I don't know what I would've done without you."
Mercedes didn't say anything momentarily, her gaze drifting to the bags in the cart. Then, she met his eyes again, a little more softly than before. "You're figuring it out. And I'm here if you need me. For Chloe, and for you."
His chest tightened, but before he could say anything more, a loud squeal from the cart caught his attention. Chloe was giggling wildly, her hands gripping the steering wheel of the toy car with both hands, utterly oblivious to the grown-ups around her.
"I am just glad that Chloe has a friend in Kylie." Sam nodded.
"Yeah, they are fast friends." Mercedes agreed.
For the first time since Chloe had entered his life, he felt... sure, not about everything, but about the fact that he was going to try. And maybe that was enough for now.
He looked back at Mercedes, his expression softening. "Thanks, Mercedes."
She gave him a slight nod, her eyes meeting his for just a beat longer than necessary. There was something unspoken between them—something that Sam couldn't quite name, but he didn't need to. Not yet.
As they left the store, Sam felt the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him, but he didn't feel overwhelmed. Not anymore. Not with Mercedes by his side. And with Chloe in his arms, laughing and playing, it felt like, for the first time, maybe he could do this.
After the shopping trip, Sam and Mercedes made their way to the firehouse; Simon asked if they could drop off a bunch of subs for lunch. As they pulled up, Sam couldn't help but notice how happy Chloe seemed to be. She and Ky giggled and talked, their chatter filling the car. He was surprised, considering how silent she had been.
Sam sighed. "Hey, girls," he said, trying to keep his voice light as he parked. Are you ready to see Uncle Simon?"
They both giggled from the back seat, their eyes wide with excitement. "Uncle Si!" they sang as though they'd been waiting for this moment all day.
"Yeah, Uncle Si," Sam chuckled, glancing over at Mercedes, who smiled warmly at the exchange. She was leaning forward, watching the girls interact with Sam, her gaze softening.
As they approached the firehouse, Mercedes was the first to step out, helping Ky from the back seat while Sam unbuckled Chloe. They walked toward the entrance, the sound of laughter and camaraderie echoing from inside.
Simon stood by the door, leaning against the frame, grinning as he saw them approach.
"Well, well, look who finally decided to show up!" Simon said with a laugh. He stepped forward, arms wide, and Ky immediately ran into his arms.
"Si, Si!" she exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.
"Hey, princess!" Simon said, lifting her high in the air before turning to Chloe, who was standing slightly behind him, clutching Sam's hand.
"Chloe, hey!" Simon greeted her, his voice full of warmth. Chloe hesitated for a moment before holding up her arms. Sam smiled softly and nodded, prompting Chloe to reach for Simon.
"Up!" Chloe said, her voice small but clear, and Simon immediately scooped her up into his arms.
"You spoke to me!" Simon said, tickling her and making her laugh.
Sam stood back, watching the scene unfold with a mix of awe and appreciation. Clearly, Simon had a special bond with both girls, and he could see how much that mattered to him.
As the laughter settled, Mercedes stepped forward, looking at Simon with a playful smile. "I outta punch you in your jaw."
Simon's eyes widened as he held both girls in his arms for a shield. "Why?"
"Mommy kissed Sam." Ky said, and Chole giggled.
"Mommy did what?!" Simon gasped.
Mercedes shook her head. "I didn't know they had seen that! It's your fault!"
Stevie and Hunter walked over to them, and Ky reached out for them. Stevie smiled at Chloe, and she smiled back, reaching out for him. "How would you girls like to ride in Ky's car?"
"Yay!" Ky said, and Chloe nodded.
Mercedes nodded towards Stevie. "Go ahead, I am going to cuss your brother out and set up the subs for you all."
Sam smiled. "And for once, she doesn't mean me."
Simon led Mercedes up the stairs, and Mercedes shoved him again. "Guess who tried to grind all up on me at the grocery store in front of my daughter! How the hell could you think I'd want to be with Jordan? He's an asshat."
"And he got pretty aggressive. I had to kiss her to send him away." Sam added.
Simon sighed as he opened the sub bag. "I am sorry. Truthfully, I just thought you needed some fun."
Mercedes side-eyed him. "Revenge is coming. Just know that."
"Wait," Simon said, throwing his hands up. "Don't do that. I'm sorry."
Mercedes shrugged and walked away.
Sam turned to his brother, raising an eyebrow. "Scared much?"
"Dude, her revenge is diabolical…but I'll be scared later. Do you want to tell me why you kissed her?"
Sam ran his hand through his hair. "I did it to push that fool away, but like…it was a mistake."
"A mistake because?"
Sam looked after Mercedes and saw her taking photos of Ky driving Chloe around. "Because I want to do it again."