So glad that you are enjoying this story! I hope I am doing all of these stories and Samcedes justice. I hope you all have a great new year and enjoy the stories I dropped today.
Sam's apartment was bustling with excitement as his Mary and Stacey stepped in, their eyes widening in appreciation at the beautiful place.
"Okay, so tell me about this place!" Mary said excitedly.
Simon stood. "Well, as you can see, his living room and dining room are open concept right into this gorgeous kitchen with this huge Island, and he has three bedrooms, so he can make an office in case he needs to work from home."
Chloe, who had been trailing behind everyone, spun around in circles, clearly impressed with the space.
"You did good, Sam," Stacey said, turning in a slow circle to take it all in. "But something tells me you owe most of this to someone else." She gave him a teasing grin.
Simon, leaning against the kitchen island, crossed his arms and nodded. "We do owe a lot of it to Mercedes." His tone was light, but his eyes were meaningful as he glanced toward Sam, hinting at the weight of their earlier confrontation.
"Mercedes, is she here now?" Mary repeated with interest. I'd love to meet her finally."
Sam stiffened at the mention of her name. Simon shook his head, still staring at his brother."That... that might not be possible."
Mary, sensing the shift, frowned. "Why not?" she asked carefully.
Simon gave his brother a sharp look as if daring him to say what had been brewing between him and Mercedes. Sam exhaled heavily and ran a hand through his hair. "Because I accused her of being nice to me so she could sleep with Simon," he muttered.
The room went still. Mary gasped softly, her hand coming to her chest. "What? I know the hell you didn't." she whispered in disbelief.
"This was after she gave him a box of clothes and toys for Chloe, my dear," Dwight added.
Sam closed his eyes briefly, then shook his head as if to dismiss it. "I didn't mean it like that. I just... She was being way too nice, okay? I had to ask." His voice was gruff and defensive.
"You had to ask if she was trying to hook up with your brother after she was trying to help you, I mean, Sam, she got you this place…" Stacey's voice cut through the tension like a knife, sharp and full of disapproval. She didn't wait for an answer. Instead, she turned to Simon, her expression fierce. "What the hell is wrong with him! Where does she live?"
Simon gestured to the door across the hall. "Right there, Stevie is over there."
Without another word, Stacey stormed out of the apartment. Sam sighed heavily, watching her go. "Stace, come on—" But she was already gone, knocking on the door across the way.
Simon ignored Sam for a moment as Chloe had found the box of clothes and grabbed a unicorn Stuffy.
"That's a pretty stuffy isn't it?" Simon asked and Chloe slightly nodded.
Simon smiled when she hugged it. "A friend of mine, she bought it for you."
As Simon stood, Quinn walked into Sam's place. Looking furious, she stepped up to Sam. "How dare you!"
"Quinn, why am I not shocked to see you here?" Sam said, shaking his head.
"Mercedes is like a sister to me, and when I call her to see what I can bring to help you feel more comfortable and she tells me that you said she was whoring herself out to Simon? She would never do that! And not because your brother isn't hot but because she isn't that kind of person!"
"Aww, you think I'm hot, Quinnie?"
"Shut up," she spat, looking back at Sam. "You will go and apologize, Sam Evans!"
"That's what I said, I never raised my boys to be so disrespectful!" Mary added.
"You guys are making a big deal out of nothing." Sam sighed.
"May I?" Quinn asked as she smiled softly at Mary.
Mary nodded.
Quinn looked at Sam, her eyes narrowed dangerously. Without hesitation, she marched across the room and punched Sam square in the arm. "You jerk! You'd better fix this, Sam, or so help me—" She punched him harder this time.
"Ow!" Sam winced, rubbing his arm but not retaliating. "All right, all right, I get it," he muttered.
Simon picked Chloe up and then stood staring at Quinn with amusement. "I love it when she gets all rough," he commented under his breath, clearly enjoying the chaos.
Quinn shot him a glare. "You're not helping," she snapped, though a hint of a smile tugged at her lips.
"I know now come meet my adorable new niece."
As Stacey knocked on Mercedes's door, Stevie opened it, leaning against the doorframe and watching with amusement.
"Stace," Stevie greeted his tone light and teasing. "You here to help with the damage control I assume?"
Stacey rolled her eyes. "You could say that." She stepped inside, her gaze falling on Mercedes, sitting on the couch with Kylie beside her, chatting quietly.
Stacey smiled warmly at Mercedes. "You must be Mercedes," she said, stepping forward. "I'm really sorry about my brother. He's an ass."
Mercedes stood up slowly, her posture tense but polite. "It's okay; you must be Stacey. It's a pleasure to finally meet you," she replied, though her eyes flickered with a mix of emotions.
"I am, and no, it's not okay that he treated you like that," Stacey said firmly, shaking her head. "He shouldn't have said that. I promise he's not usually this stupid. It's this whole situation." She sighed, then glanced at Kylie. "And you must be the famous Kylie?"
Kylie smiled shyly and nodded. "I am! Kylie Arper Jones Ill!" she said proudly.
"Oh, you are adorable!"
Stevie moved closer to Jane. "Seems this is a mess."
Jane nodded. "If your brother doesn't fix this, Mercedes won't forgive him. She holds a grudge, but you know her, you know that."
Stevie nodded. "Yeah, but Sam isn't normally like this; he just mistrusts so many people."
"And you? Do you mistrust people?" Jane asked, moving closer to him.
"I don't mistrust you; in fact, I'd go far enough to ask you what you are doing tomorrow night?"
Jane gasped. "Are you finally asking me out?"
"Finally?" Stevie asked, confused.
"I have been hinting almost as much as Quinn has for Si."
Stevie laughs, and Jane giggles as Mercedes and Stacey look over to them.
"Well, now, this is a new development." Mercedes teased.
Stacey nodded. "Indeed. These two are…cute."
"Very much so." Mercedes said as Kylie looked between the two women.
As Stacey and Mercedes continued to talk, Quinn walked into Mercedes's place, followed by Simon with an adorable girl on his arm. Kylie immediately ran to Simon, wanting to see who was with him. Mercedes let Quinn hug her, hugging her back.
"I am so sorry he was like that with you."
Mercedes shook her head. "He just better be lucky he has you and his brothers to vouch for him."
Mary and Dwight walked in as the two little girls hugged. "Mommy, mommy, I have a friend," Kylie said, running to her with Chloe in tow. "Can she stay?"
"Oh, honey, I don't…" Mercedes started before the little girl tried to climb her lap. "Oh, honey," Mercedes said, picking Chloe up. "You are beautiful."
Kylie sat next to Mercedes, climbing up her free leg. "Mommy, she's sad."
"She is? Why is she sad?" Mercedes asked her daughter.
"Make her feel better?"
Mercedes looked at Chloe. "What makes you sad, Honey?"
Chloe looked at her and frowned. "Miss Mommy…"
Mary's eyes widened as Stacey frowned. "She can talk?"
Mercedes looked at them. "She wasn't speaking?"
Mary shook her head. "No, not at all."
Mercedes looked back at the little girl and offered her a smile. "I know you miss your mommy, when you are sad, what does she do to make you happy?"
"Sing," Chloe said softly.
"Mommy sings," Kylie said, and Mercedes smiled, seeing that even at three, she was showing empathy to someone.
"You know, Chloe, Ky's favorite song is "Let it Go" from Frozen. Do you know that song?"
Chloe nodded tearfully.
"Would you like me to sing that for you? I know I am not your mom, but I am a mom, so I know how to make you feel better."
Chloe nodded again, and Mercedes smiled down at her as she began to sing. Kylie joined in, and soon, Chloe snuggled close to Mercedes, singing as well.
Sam hesitated momentarily before allowing Hunter to almost push him across the hall. He froze seeing Mercedes sing and comfort Chloe.
"What the hell is happening?" Sam said confused.
Simon walked closer to Sam. "That is a mother trying to make a sad child feel better."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Chloe spoke."
Sam shook his head. "I thought you all said she doesn't speek."
"She didn't...but she climbed into Mercedes arms and sad she was sad, and so Mercedes and Ky are making her feel better. Any man seeing his child in pain would be grateful for someone helping and making her feel better."
Sam shook his head, walking away as Simon, Dwight, and Mary followed him.
"Sam! Sam, what the hell is your issue?" Simon spat.
Sam shook his head. "Look, it was a nice sight to see, but you can't make me feel something I don't. I don't know that little girl, and I am just supposed to love her? Take care of her? This isn't going to work."
"Are you saying you will abandon your flesh and blood?" Mary asked.
Sam balled his fists and unballed them. "I don't know! I didn't ask for this. I don't know how to do this!"
"Then you better learn, because she deserves a father who loves her, not one who sees her as a burden!"
"But she is a burden!" Sam cried out. "I didn't ask to be a father any more than she asked to be my daughter."
"It's time to grow the hell up, son. Chloe is an Evans. So you need to figure out what kind of man you will be. A father who really tries to be the man his daughter deserves or a deadbeat who lets someone else raise his child." Dwight said. "Now, I am going to finish putting that little girl's bed together, and then your mother and I need to leave."
Sam watched his father and mother walk away and looked over at Simon. "Look, I am going to try. I am…I am just scared. I know nothing about being a father or about having a daughter."
"Who does? Most people have more than a day to come to terms with being a parent, so I will give you time." Simon nodded. "I will stay in your guest room. Don't worry; your office will have a sleeper couch. I will help you tonight and for the next couple of days. We are family; we are in this together."
Sam nodded as he followed Simon back to his apartment. He looked over to Mercedes's place, where the door was open, and saw her and her daughter tickle Chloe, making her laugh. Damn, she was some kinda woman.
After the guys set up Chloe's room and the rest of his apartment, Sam and Simon spent the rest of the evening watching Frozen and Frozen 2 with Chloe.
It was clear that it was her favorite movie.
As Chloe played with her stuffed Unicorn, Sam and Simon realized it was time to get her ready for bed and began to freak out.
As they both looked towards the bathroom, Simon paused, scrunching his face in realization. "Uh, Sam, I think she needs a bath."
Sam glanced over at Chloe, her messy pigtails and smudged chocolate cheeks proof of her energetic evening.
"You may be right...so do it." Sam urged.
Simon raised an eyebrow, shaking his head as he nudged his brother. "You're her dad."
Sam grimaced, looking at his brother. "Yeah, but you're her uncle. You could do it. That's why you are here, right? To help?"
Simon rolled his eyes. "Rock-paper-scissors?"
Sam nodded as they both shook their fists. They played a few rounds, but as it was when they were kids, it always ended in a tie.
With a sigh, Sam looked at him. "Dude...I can't... she's a ... I can't. I mean, I am thankful she's potty trained cause...I can't."
Simon could see his fear and nodded. "Fine. Let's ask Mercedes."
Sam hesitated. "No, I can't just ask her to do that. It's too much, and she already hates me."
"Look, man, she's got a daughter, Sam. She'll know what to do, and besides… she's a woman. This is more in her wheelhouse, and I know she will do it." Simon insisted, giving him a sly smile. Sam shook his head but ultimately gave in, muttering, "Alright, but you're asking."
Simon smirked. "Of course I am; there is no way she would answer if it were just you."
Sam bent down to Chloe. "Hey, pretty girl, we are going to see Mercedes."
Chloe's eyes lit up. "Mercy?! Yay!"
Chloe lifted her arms, and Sam picked her up, surprised that she was eager to see the woman.
They walked over to Mercedes's door, and Simon hesitated before knocking on it.
As soon as she opened it, Chloe's face lit up. "Mercy!" she called out, giggling and reaching for her. Mercedes' eyes softened as she smiled, taking the little girl in her arms.
Simon wasted no time. "We need a huge favor; I know you did a lot already, but this...this is...well, Chloe needs a bath, and, well... we're hopeless. Could you help us? Please?"
Mercedes sighed but stepped aside. "I just finished bathing and dressing Ky, so... sure, come in."
Mercedes moved to the couch where Kylie was reaching out for Simon.
"Si, you are on Kylie duty. She is already tired, so just sit and read with her, and we will be back."
Sam's eyes widened. "We?"
Mercedes looked at him. "Yes, we. This is your daughter; we are doing this together."
Sam nodded as he followed her into the bathroom. "Alright," Mercedes began, gesturing towards Ky's bathroom. Mermaids were on the wall, and a shelf with everything needed for her bath.
"Since I have two bathrooms, I created this as her bathroom but also for guests. You want to ensure you have everything you need for her ahead of time so you don't have to keep going back and forth."
Sam nodded as he looked around.
She placed Chloe down and turned the water on. "Now, the water temperature should be warm but not too hot—test it with your wrist." She twisted her wrist before placing her hand in the water to demonstrate.
As Sam put his wrist in the water, she reached for Dr. Teal's 3-in-1 bottle. "This stuff is great. It's a bubble bath, shampoo, and body wash all in one, plus it calms them down for bedtime. You'll thank me later."
Sam watched as she poured the liquid into the running water, a sea of bubbles forming almost instantly. Mercedes then grabbed a face guard from the shelf. "This will keep the shampoo out of her eyes," she said, showing him how to place it on Chloe's forehead, before removing it and putting it on the side.
As she went to remove Chloe's clothes, Sam turned quickly so as not to watch, and Mercedes chuckled. "You know she's your daughter, right?"
"It just seems weird...I just met her." Sam said, still looking at the wall.
Once Chloe was undressed and in the bath, Sam turned around, watching her. Mercedes removed the little girl's pigtails and showed Sam how to wash her hair. She rubbed the shampoo gently into her scalp and used the face guard to rinse it out without the soapy water running into her eyes.
Chole happily splashed in the water, and Sam smiled. "She loves bath time, huh?" Sam mused, watching Mercedes playfully splash water with Chloe, who was all smiles.
Mercedes glanced at him. "Most kids do if you make it fun. Toys help a lot," she said, handing Chloe a rubber duck. "Sam, I know that being a father was the last thing on your mind, but she is here, and sooner or later, it will get easier."
Sam nodded in appreciation for her words as he looked back at his daughter.
After rinsing Chloe off, Mercedes wrapped her in a fluffy unicorn towel and lifted her out of the tub.
"Now, this is important." She grabbed a bottle of Johnson & Johnson lavender lotion. "This stuff helps her sleep. You'll want to massage it in gently...it's soothing to her." She demonstrated, rubbing the lotion into Chloe's skin.
"Okay, grab her underwear and pajamas." Mercedes instructed.
"Oh, they are in the...our apartment. I will be right back."
Mercedes nodded as Sam ran out of the room. Mercedes moved to the living room with Chloe, and Sam returned with her clothes.
Once Chloe was dressed, Mercedes brushed her hair, effortlessly detangling the strands. Sam stood in the doorway, watching as Chloe sat contentedly, her eyes beginning to droop from the calming lavender and the warm bath.
Finally, Sam cleared his throat. "Mercedes… I owe you an apology. I shouldn't have said what I did. Please accept it. I know I was out of line."
Mercedes paused for a moment before looking up at him. "We'll see, Sam. Actions speak louder than words."
Sam nodded, his face filled with regret, but as he watched Mercedes gently care for his daughter, he couldn't help but feel grateful for her.
"She's tired, but if you bring her over in the morning, I will show you how to do her hair," Mercedes said, nodding for him to take her. "I have to put my little munchkin to bed."
Sam moved closer to her and grabbed Chloe as Simon stood.
"You are a Goddess, and we don't deserve you." He said, kissing her forehead.
"I know." Mercedes smiles. "Goodnight."
As they exited her apartment, Sam looked down at Chloe, who was snuggled close to him, and then at Simon. "I was wrong about her."
"Eh." Simon shrugged. "You are wrong about a lot of things."