I know you have been waiting, and I hope it was worth the wait! I also updated Husband for Hire and uploaded others. But it may take a bit of time, considering I am working on three books and my 25 Days of Christmas thing with Kesh, but I got you guys! Love you!

The fluorescent lights of the hospital corridor blurred as Mercedes clung to Sam's hand, her grip vice-like. Sweat dripped down her temples, her chest heaving with every breath. Her voice cracked as another contraction seized her.

"Sam!" she cried out.

"I'm here," Sam said quickly, matching her pace as the nurse wheeled her toward the delivery room. "You're okay. I'm not going anywhere."

"Cody," she gasped, her voice trembling. "He… he doesn't know what's going on. I pr-promised to pick him up."

"Don't worry about him," Sam assured her, his hand brushing a curl from her face. "Quinn's already on her way to pick him up. She'll explain everything. Santana and Blaine are grabbing your things from the house, and Sebastian is telling everyone we are here. You just focus on you and the babies. We've got this."

Mercedes stared at him, her wide brown eyes glistening with tears, a mix of pain and gratitude. "You're not going to leave, right? Not even for a second?"

Sam leaned down, pressing his forehead gently against hers. "I'm not leaving, Mercedes. Not for anything. You've got me, okay? All the way."

She nodded weakly, gripping his hand as another contraction tore through her.

The delivery room was a flurry of movement as doctors and nurses prepared for the arrival of the triplets. Mercedes lay back on the bed, her breathing uneven as the contractions intensified.

"Okay, Mercedes," the doctor said, his tone calm but firm. "You are already eight centimeters dilated. It's almost time to meet your babies. The nurses are just going to finish hooking you up to the machines. You're doing great."

"Great?!" Mercedes snapped, glaring at the doctor. "This feels like I'm being ripped apart! Give me the drugs! I want all the drugs!"

"I uh…Mercedes, you are too far along for an epidural."

"Excuse me?" She said, and the room went eerily quiet at her tone.

Mercedes stared at Sam. "Make him give me drugs! I want all the DRUGS!" she screamed out as another contraction hit her.

"We can get you something to take the edge off. Nurse Parker, please grab the Morphine; it will give her relief before we start pushing."

"We?! I don't recall you doing any of the work!" Mercedes spat, and the doctor threw up her hands, stepping back.

Sam chuckled nervously, holding a cup of ice chips to her lips. "Want some ice chips? They'll help."

Mercedes shot him a withering look. "Do I look like ice chips are going to fix this, Sam?"

"Right," Sam said, setting the cup aside. "No more ice chips. Got it."

As another contraction wracked her body, Mercedes cried out, gripping Sam's hand so tightly that he winced.

"God, I can't do this," she whimpered, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I don't think I can."

Sam knelt beside her, his free hand cradling her cheek. "Hey, look at me," he said softly, his green eyes locking onto hers. "You can do this. You're the strongest person I know. And guess what? In just a little while, we're going to meet three amazing little humans who already think you're the best mom in the world. I can't wait to see them, Mercedes. To hold them. To see them look at you the way I do."

Her breath hitched, his words cutting through her pain. She nodded, her resolve strengthening as she squeezed his hand.

"Okay," she whispered as the nurse returned with the Morphine.

"Baby A is crowning!" the doctor announced, his voice breaking through the haze of pain and adrenaline Mercedes had been feeling.

With her legs in the stirrups, Sam gripped one side, and the nurse gripped the other. All Mercedes could think of was, why didn't she just adopt again? It wouldn't hurt like this!

Mercedes let out a primal scream, her body trembling as she pushed. Sam leaned into her, kissing her forehead as he held her, whispering how proud he was of her.

"I'm so proud of you baby. You're doing amazing," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

"I swear to God, Sam if you say that one more time, you're sleeping on the couch forever," Mercedes groaned, her teeth gritted.

"Duly noted," Sam replied, though a small smile tugged at his lips.

A high-pitched cry suddenly filled the room, and Mercedes' head fell back against the pillow, her body sagging with relief.

"Baby A is a boy!" the doctor said, holding up a tiny, squirming bundle.

"Tristan Parker Evans," Mercedes whispered, her voice hoarse but full of love.

"Hi, Tristan," Sam said softly, tears streaming down his cheeks as he cut the cord, then watched the nurse wrap the baby in a blanket.

"Baby B is coming!" The doctor announced though Sam could tell from the way Mercedes gritted her teeth.

Before Mercedes could fully recover, another contraction hit. She let out a strained cry, her body arching as she pushed again. Sam stroked her hair, murmuring words of encouragement.

"COUCH EVANS!" Mercedes roared.

Sam shook his head. "I don't care! This is...you are a woman here, you roar type of stuff, Mercedes."

Moments later, another baby's cry filled the room.

"Baby B is here! It's another boy!" the doctor announced, holding up the squirming, crying boy.

Sam's breath hitched, cutting his cord as well. "Liam Gabriel Evans," he whispered, his voice trembling as he watched the nurse bundle their second son.

Mercedes slumped back against the pillows, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. "Sam…" she whispered weakly, her voice barely audible.

"Hey, I'm right here," Sam reassured her, stroking her damp curls.

"One more to go, Mercedes," the doctor said. "You're almost there."

Mercedes let out a shaky breath, her grip on Sam's hand tightening. "I can't," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I don't have anything left."

Kissing her softly, he stared at her. "You got this beautiful, just one more. "Sam encouraged.

"Okay, Mercedes…here comes another—" the doctor frowned, his words cut short by the beeping monitors and Mercedes's crying out.

"Her blood pressure is dropping," the nurse said sharply.

"What?" Sam's voice rose, panic flashing in his green eyes. "But she's gonna be okay…"

The doctor's tone turned urgent. "Baby C isn't descending. We need to prep for an emergency C-section now."

Mercedes tried to lift her head, confusion and fear in her eyes. "What… what's happening?"

"Mercedes, listen to me," Sam said, his voice cracking as he gripped her hand. "The doctors need to help get Isabella out safely. But you're going to be okay. You hear me? You're going to be okay."

Mercedes gave a weak nod, her eyelids fluttering as exhaustion overtook her. "Take care of them…" she murmured before slipping into unconsciousness.

"Mercedes?! Mercedes!" Sam's heart pounded as he shouted her name.

"Sir, we need you to step back," a nurse said firmly, guiding him toward the door.

Sam hesitated, his feet rooted to the spot. "I can't…please…

"Sam…we got her, trust us. We do need to know… just as a precaution…if it comes down to it, who do you focus our attention on? Mercedes or your daughter?"

Sam stared at her. "I'm sorry, but it sounds like you are asking me who I want you to save! And if that's the case, I want you to save them both! Do your job and save them both!"

The nurse nodded, walking away, while Sam's gaze stayed locked on Mercedes as they wheeled her out of the room toward the operating room.

Sam stood outside the nursery, his forehead gently banging against the glass as he watched the nurses clean and swaddle Tristan and Liam. Their cries echoed faintly, but it did little to quiet the storm in his chest.

While he was happy that his sons were there, he needed Mercedes to pull through.

"Please," he whispered, his hands trembling. "Please let her and Isabella be okay."

"Sam?"

He turned to see his parents, Mary and Dwight, approaching. Mary carried a bouquet of sunflowers, and Dwight held a cluster of pink and blue balloons. Behind them, Mercedes' parents, Amelia and Percy, followed, their faces lined with bright smiles.

Though one look at Sam, pale and wide-eyed, and Mary dropped the flowers, rushing to her son. "Sam, what happened?"

"She…" Sam swallowed hard, his voice cracking. "She…"

Amelia held her chest. "Sam…where is my baby?"

Sam looked at her. "Mercedes's blood pressure dropped. Isabella wasn't moving down. They had to do an emergency C-section. She passed out, and I—" His voice faltered, his chest heaving.

Mary pulled him into a tight hug, her tears spilling over. "She's strong, Sam. She'll pull through this. So will Isabella."

Amelia stepped forward, her voice trembling. "She has to be okay. My baby girl has to be okay."

Dwight placed a steadying hand on Percy's shoulder as the older man wiped his eyes. "We're all here for her," Dwight said quietly.

Sam nodded, though his hands continued to tremble. He turned back to the nursery, his gaze fixed on his sons.

"Tristian and Liam are there wondering why they can't hear their mom's voice…why they don't see their sister. They don't even know what's happening," he whispered.

Amelia followed his gaze and smiled through her tears. "They are beautiful."

Percy pulled her close. "She's going to pull through. Mercedes won't let this take her out."

The elevator doors dinged, and Quinn stepped out, followed by Mercedes' siblings—Micah, Aiden, and PJ. Kitty and Santana followed, with Cody sprinting ahead of the group.

"Dad!" Cody shouted, throwing himself into Sam's arms.

Sam crouched down, his heart twisting at the sight of the tearful boy. "Hey, bud," he said, his voice soft but shaky.

"Where's Mom?" Cody asked, his little hands clutching Sam's shirt. "Auntie Quinn said she was bringing me to the babies. Where is she?"

Sam hesitated, glancing at Quinn for support.

Quinn bent down. "She is still working on it, buddy."

Sam nodded. "Mommy is with the doctors, Cody," Sam said gently. "They're helping her bring Isabella out safely, but if you look in there."

Sam lifted him. "You can see your brothers Liam and Tristian."

Cody's eyes widened in awe of his brothers. "I'm a big brother."

Sam nodded. "The best big brother."

After a moment, he looked at Sam. "Is Mommy really okay?" Cody's lip trembled, his big brown eyes brimming with tears.

Sam forced a smile, his heart breaking. "She's just exhausted right now, buddy. But she's strong. She's going to be okay."

Cody sniffled, looking up at him. "Pinky promise?"

Sam swallowed hard and hooked his pinky with Cody's. "Promise."

Sam sat in the waiting room, rocking a sleeping Cody in his arms. The little boy's hand clutched a corner of Sam's shirt, his tiny breaths steady and calm—a stark contrast to the turmoil inside Sam's chest. He kissed Cody's curly hair, his throat tightening as he silently prayed for Mercedes and Isabella.

"Mr. Evans?" A nurse stepped into the room.

Sam looked up immediately. "Yes?"

"Can I have a moment? I need you to sign some paperwork for the boys," she said gently.

Sam hesitated, his grip on Cody tightening.

"I've got him," Quinn said, stepping forward and holding out her arms.

Sam carefully handed Cody over, brushing the boy's cheek with his fingers before nodding to Quinn. "I'll be right back."

He followed the nurse out, his footsteps heavy.

In the waiting room, tension simmered. Micah paced back and forth, his hands on his hips. PJ and Aiden sat stiffly, their expressions stormy, while Percy Sr. leaned forward in his seat, hands clasped as if in prayer.

The room fell silent when Sam returned, looking pale but composed.

"What took so long?" Micah demanded, stepping toward him.

Sam sighed, running a hand through his hair. "They needed me to complete some paperwork for Tristan and Liam."

Micah frowned. "Paperwork? Shouldn't the doctors be focusing on Mercedes? Why haven't we heard anything about her or Isabella yet?"

"I don't know," Sam admitted, his voice strained. "They're doing everything they can."

"That's not good enough," PJ said, his tone sharp. "We've been sitting here for what feels like hours with no updates. What's going on back there?"

"I've told you everything I know," Sam said, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "Do you think I wouldn't tell you if I knew more?"

"Alright, enough," Percy Sr. interrupted, his tone firm. "Let's just be patient. Getting upset isn't going to help Mercedes or Isabella."

"Patient?" Aiden said, his voice rising. "That's our sister back there. She could be…" His voice faltered, and he looked away, his hands clenching into fists.

Sam's shoulders sagged, the weight of their anger and his own fears pressing down on him.

"Look, I—"

"Hey!" Blaine's voice cut through the tension like a blade. He stepped forward, his usually calm demeanor replaced with uncharacteristic sternness. "Back off."

Micah turned to him, his brows furrowing. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," Blaine said, standing his ground. "Whatever you're feeling right now, Sam's feeling it times a hundred. That's his fiancée in there. His daughter. And he's doing everything he can to hold it together, so cut him some slack."

Kitty nodded, stepping beside Blaine. "You guys love Mercedes. We get that. But so does Sam. And I've never seen anyone more devoted to her and Cody than he is. So maybe channel all that energy into supporting him instead of tearing him down."

The room fell silent, the weight of their words sinking in.

Micah opened his mouth to argue, but Aiden held up a hand, stopping him. He stepped forward, his expression softening. "Sam," he said, his voice low. "I'm sorry, man. We're just—" He paused, his throat working as he struggled to find the words. "We're scared. We love her so much, and seeing her like this…not knowing…"

Sam met Aiden's gaze, his green eyes filled with unspoken emotions. "I know," he said quietly. "I love her too. And I swear I'm just as scared as you are. But I trust the doctors. They got Tristian and Liam here safely…and Mercedes is strong. She'll pull through this. She has to."

Aiden nodded, his shoulders relaxing. "You're right. I'm sorry for snapping."

Micah sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah. Me too. This whole situation sucks, but we shouldn't have taken it out on you."

Sam managed a faint smile, though his voice was tight with emotion. "Thanks. And… I'm sorry I don't have more answers. I just want her to be okay."

PJ clapped a hand on Sam's shoulder. "She will be. If anyone can handle this, it's Mercedes. And she's got you by her side."

"Not just him," Percy Sr. added, his voice steady. "She's got all of us. No matter what happens, we're a family. And families stick together."

Kitty placed a hand on Sam's arm. "You need to eat something. Or at least sit down for a minute."

"I can't," Sam said, shaking his head. "Not until I know they're okay."

Finally, the doors to the operating room swung open, and the doctor emerged.

"Mr. Evans?"

Sam was on his feet instantly, his heart pounding so hard he could barely hear. "How is she? How's Isabella?"

The doctor, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and a tired expression, approached him and gave him a reassuring smile. "Both mother and baby are okay. Isabella had some trouble breathing initially, but she's doing well now and breathing independently. She's in the nursery, and the pediatric team is closely monitoring her. Mercedes…well, she gave us a scare."

Sam's breath hitched. "What happened?"

Everyone stood, listening in.

The doctor's smile faltered. "Mercedes had significant bleeding after the birth of your second son. We tried several measures to control it—medication, sutures—but nothing worked. The C-section didn't help matters. It was critical, and we had to act fast. The only option to save her life was an emergency hysterectomy. It was…unavoidable."

The weight of her words pressed down on Sam's chest. "A hysterectomy?" His voice cracked, the word foreign and heavy on his tongue.

The doctor nodded, her tone somber. "I'm so sorry. We know how devastating this can be, but the bleeding was severe. Her uterus wouldn't contract, and if we hadn't taken action, we could have lost her. It's what took so long—we did everything we could to avoid it, but ultimately, we had no other choice."

Sam's legs nearly gave out, and Mary was at his side immediately, steadying him with a firm grip. Amelia, her face pale but resolute, stepped forward, her hands clutching his.

"She's stable?" Sam asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes," the doctor said firmly. "She's stable. She's still being monitored closely, but she's going to be okay."

Sam released a shaky breath, tears stinging his eyes as relief and heartbreak collided within him. "Thank you," he murmured, his voice hoarse.

Mary pulled him into a tight hug, her tears soaking into his shirt. "Thank God," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Amelia joined them, her own tears flowing freely. "She's strong, Sam. She's going to be okay. And I know this is a huge deal, but you have Cody and the triplets, and she's okay."

Standing nearby, Percy Sr. closed his eyes and murmured a prayer of thanks, his hands clasped tightly, his hand on his wife's shoulder. He knew she was trying to give Sam insight because for a woman to lose something like that could be hard.

Quinn placed a comforting hand on Sam's arm. "Go see her," she said, her voice full of warmth and understanding. "We've got Cody."

Sam looked to Cody, who was still nestled in Quinn's arms, blissfully unaware of the chaos and fear that had unfolded. Sam pressed a kiss to the boy's forehead before nodding. "Thanks, Quinn."

Micah stepped forward, his earlier tension replaced with concern. "You go. We'll be here if you need anything."

"Thanks, Micah," Sam said, his voice thick with emotion.

As Sam followed the doctor down the hall, Mary's voice broke the silence in the waiting room. "She's going to need all of us to get through this."

"And she's got us," Percy Sr. said firmly. "Every single one of us."