One Week Later

"Girl you are so stupid"

Mercedes looked up from her coffee, "Excuse me?" she asked with annoyance.

Alexis leaned over the table, "You are stupid," she said popping the 'p', "I can't believe you said such scandalous shit to Sam. After all you've been through together you have the nerve to still be hung up on trivial crap?"

"I'm not hung up on anything!" she snapped defensively, "It just came out. I was angry and it slipped."

Alexis glared at her, "Stuff like that just doesn't slip out Mercedes. You either mean it or you don't. If you don't mean if you would have never said it."

Looking down at Frappucino, Mercedes started to slush around the straw. Alexis has a point and Mercedes hated owning up to it. Things had become very awkward in the apartment since the fight. If they were home together they acted like they were in two different dimensions in the same space. Sam hadn't spoken a true word to her unless it was to ask about their kids. He even took to sleeping on the couch at night. An action that left Mercedes feeling empty and lonely as she would lay there smoothing her hand over his side of the bed, her heart breaking wanting him to join her. It was her fault though, she made no attempt to engage him in a conversation. Instead she would bury herself in her books as he tended to the kids throughout the day. That was another nail in the coffin for them, their kids. After their argument Sam had been keeping to himself and as a result their little ones as well. If one of them cried he'd be the first to rush up, not giving her the chance to care for them. Feeding time Sam would just wave her off gently or say, 'I got this'. It hurt. It hurt so bad that Mercedes thought she was developing heartburn over everything. She got why he was defensive. After all in a little few words or less she admitted that she felt Sam and their kids were a burden on her life.

"Hey are you listening to me!" Alexis asked snapping her fingers.

Mercedes glared, "Yes"

"Ok, listen girl you and me are cool but you really need to get your life right. I can't be your white savior, you can only fix this."

"Thanks," she replied dryly

"However I can get you advice because that's what I like doing," she started before smiling, "If your relationship isn't in order then your house isn't in order."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"It means!" she paused to take a sip of her coffee, "It means that if you don't fix this mess with you and Sam everything you have now is going to fall apart more than it already is."

"Gee, when did you become Ms. Words of Wisdom?"

"Stop deflecting and take me seriously. I maybe younger than you by 2 years but apparently in this category I'm wiser." Alexis leaned over and gently stroked Hayden's head, "You're lucky Mercedes. You're really lucky"

"How so?"

Alexis frowned, "Because you have someone that loves you. Not only does he love you but he stuck by you after finding out you were pregnant. I wish I could have that, I mean Hayden and I are fine on our own but I still wish I could give her a father. I'm not saying you need a man to complete your life or anything, I'm just saying that you've got a good thing and you're messing it up," she stated making eye contact with Mercedes, "Let's be honest here girl. For real, for real Sammy is hot. You're hot too but he's a hot dude who shows love and devotion to his kids. Girls go nuts for that shit and it helps that he's extremely attractive and has a body like-"

"Alexis…" Mercedes warned

Alexis gave her an unapologetic smile, "I'm just being honest. He won't leave you because he loves you and doesn't have a need to seek out options. But are you really going to wait until he realizes he does have them? One day you'll come home and find out he packed up himself and the kids and moved back to that tiny town ya'll are from. Or worse you come home and find out he got a new girl to play mommy to his kids."

"Sam wouldn't do that."

"Right now he won't. But after awhile heartache turns into loneliness, loneliness turns into depression and then he's just vulnerable. He's probably vulnerable right now…"

"I see"

"You Cedes you piss me off," Alexis admitted shaking her head, "Again I'm not going to tell you want to do but when someone younger than you has to give you advice on your relationship, and they're single, you need to evaluate your priorities. I know you're all about getting your big break and making it, and no one's trying to stop you. Sam supports you. However that flame of a dream isn't burning as brightly anymore because you have new priorities that you are putting on the backburner. The cemeteries filled with hard headed people."

Before Mercedes could respond to Alexis's remark Aurora's whimper from the stroller caught her attention. Turning to the sound she looked at her daughter as her large brown eyes started to tear up. Mercedes carefully lifted her up and sat her on her lap, "You're ok baby girl, you're ok. Did you want to sit with the big girls?" she cooed smoothing over the little girls blonde curls. Aurora continued to whimper looking up at her mother with wide eyes before looking around, 'She's probably looking for her brother and Sam,' Mercedes thought feeling a tinge in her heart. The little girl blinked, sniffling as she relaxed against Mercedes touch. Eagerly she reached out trying to grab the smoothie on the tables, "Oh no, you can't have any of that!" Mercedes told gently taking her small hand into hers. Aurora pouted, looking like Sam, as she stared at her mother angrily for denying her the cold wet object she wanted to hold. Mercedes frowned. Before plugging her finger on top of the straw to suction some of the liquid, carefully bringing it over to her daughter's mouth, "Mmm yummy?" she asked watching the baby carefully lick the straw.

Alexis gave a soft smile, "Cedes…"

"hmm?" Mercedes responded looking up

"Just talk to him"

Mercedes sighed, "Easier said than done. He's never going to forgive me," she looked down at her daughter, "I know him. He'll say it but he'll hold onto it and internally continue to hurt himself. I shouldn't have said what I said period."

"No you shouldn't but you can jump back in time to erase the past."

"Time machine's would be lovely right now."

Alexis smiled, "Time machine's are overrated. You gotta learn to curve your words."

"Still can't believe I'm getting advice from a 16 year old."

"Neither can I," she laughed, "But someone's gotta talk sense into you. Might as well be me. I have no qualms with upsetting you if it means it'll steer you in the right direction. I can take the heat."

Mercedes chuckled, "Heaven knows you've pissed me off more times than I can help."

"It's love," she shrugged picking up a French fry.

The two women shared a sweet smile before finishing their lunch. Even though Alexis got in Mercedes hair every now in then the girl had finally won her over. Sure she was opinionated, challenged her on occasion and was nosy Mercedes could say with ease that she liked her. She may have started off as Sam's friend but things quickly escalated and Alexis became her friend. Mercedes couldn't deny that it felt nice to have another girl to talk to besides Aurora, who wasn't much of a talker to begin with and someone other than Puck. It felt good to get away every once in awhile and just feel like herself. Not to say she didn't feel like that with Sam, they live together so it was a different situation in her mind. She needed a friend too. Of course people did talk to her on campus, but because of her job and the kids she had to miss out on things or was left off the list for events. It was depressing to say the least but she understood. No freshman wanted to give up all the perks that came with being in college in order to have quiet mall trips or hangouts with a mother of two. Well…none that she had come across as of yet. She knew Alexis did well for herself, despite still being in high school when it came to making friends. 'Maybe we're just different,' she had told herself but was glad to have someone that she could relate too.

Mercedes dragged her feet up the stairs as she clutched Aurora to her hip, the little girl happily nibbling on a stuffed toy. "You are getting so heavy Mama!" she cooed to her daughter as she finally reached their floor. She shrugged her shoulder trying to balance the diaper bag on the other side of her arm. Mercedes had left the stroller in the car, seeing no use in lugging the heavy thing all the way up 4 flights of stairs. Throughout her entire girl's day with Alexis, her mind had wandered to Sam and how he and Isaiah were holding up without their female counterparts. Then again she had thought Sam's thought was probably less her and more of Aurora. "Don't you hate it when other people try to make sense of your life for you?" she said to her daughter, rubbing her face in her pigtailed curls, planting a soft kiss. Fishing out her keys she unlocked the door. Mercedes half expected to come home an empty apartment. Instead she came home to a questionable scenario in front of her.

"What the…" she exclaimed her eyes landing on Sam.

"Hi," he said shyly before looking down at their son.

In all the things Mercedes has ever prepared herself for, seeing Sam shirtless with blue face paint on while their son was dressed to look like a military person, hair gel'd to a small faux hawk. She could only imagine that this had something to do with Avatar, 'Why else would Sam's face be painted? …he could be joining the Blue Man Group…?' The looks they exchanged were priceless. Sam had been caught red handed in a situation he would now have to explain. He could feel Isaiah trying to shift from his legs to head towards his mother. Not breaking eye contact he reached out and grabbed the boy by the waist pulling him back against him, still staring at a confused Mercedes. Sam gave her a sheepish grin protectively collecting Isaiah in his arms as he stood up to join his girlfriend in the middle of the room. The babies exchanged looks towards each other from their parent's arms. Isaiah for once seeming delighted by his sister's sudden appearance, Aurora not so impressed with the fun her father and brother were having without her. Mercedes examined the both of them.

"We're reenacting scenes…" Sam started trying to keep the chuckle in his voice down.

Mercedes eyed him, "Uh huh"

"Izzy here is Jake in human form. It only makes perfect sense that I'd be his avatar form because I'm taller."

She arched an eyebrow, "Go on"

"And-" he was cut off by a sound in the bathroom.

"Man if all this blue crap turns my skin a weird shade I'm beating you with an inch of your life Evans!" Puck said wandering into the zoom with a blue painted face and shirtless, "Oh hey there Mama."

The expression on Mercedes face was unreadable, "This is totally normal?"

"Totally" Puck responded

"Completely normal," Sam added with confidence

"And there's nothing weird about two shirtless grown ass men in face paint with a little boy reenacting a movie."

Sam frowned, "You're making it sound way creepier than it really is."

Pulling out her phone she quickly snapped a picture, "It's adorable, creepy, but adorable."

Puck finally joined them in the room, "Come to Uncle Pucky!" he squealed holding his arms out to Aurora who started to pout.

"Your face is scaring her," Mercedes joked

Puck pouted, "Sam, Roe is giving me attitude. She's a mini Cedes. This is so unfair."

Sam chuckled turning Isaiah around in his arms as the little boy dug his chubby fingers in Sam's chest, "So…you're back…" he started

"I'm back…"

"…had fun?"

"Yeah…"

"…good"

They both stared at each other, neither one of them knowing what to say next or if to keep the conversation long. Puck noticed the tension immediately given that Sam was hesitant earlier to discuss the latest angst in their relationship. He knew that whatever it was the subject was too sensitive for Sam to talk out loud. Taking that as his cue to leave he slowly backed away from the silent couple, grabbing his buttoned shirt. Sam's eyes had been focused on Mercedes lips, waiting for her to say something first because he was at lost. She tried to make eye contact with him in hopes that it would be easier to fill the room with conversation. It wasn't until one of the babies let out a giggle that caught their attention, each looking down to find the culprit of the laugh. Aurora had a wide grin on her face, drooling as she tried to suppress her laugh. Both eyes traveled from one baby to another as Isaiah was staring intently at his sister.

"What are you two doing?" Sam asked amused as both babies looked up, "Ya'll causing trouble?"

Mercedes cuddled her daughter, "You're not causing trouble big girl, right? Daddy's just exaggerating!"

"Daddy is not exaggerating and by the looks of Izzy he is not here for whatever his sister is trying to entice him with."

Sam winced at the feel of the little boys nails digging into his skin. He groaned squinting in pain, "Easy on the grip buddy," he said prying the baby's fingers off him. Isaiah still desperate to attach himself to his father accepted grasping a finger instead. Shifting the little boy around, he sunk back into Sam's arms, starting to doze off.

"I'm sorry," Mercedes quickly blurted out

Sam looked at her with a blank expression, "About what?"

Not wanting to break up their moment Puck quietly made his rounds in the room before slipping out the door. He figured if he tried to hold a brief conversation with either of them that nothing would get resolved. Watching Sam display an arrange of emotions on his face was more than he could bare for a week. 'I should get paid for this,' he thought as he on and off referred to himself as the 'Samcedes Whisperer'. A title which had proved right by his ability to bring them together when shit got rough. Puck may have been rude, careless, a pervert and conceited but he tried not to let it fully extend to those close to him. Closing the door behind him he quietly walked down the hall before his phone went off loudly. Checking the caller I.D his eyes grew wide in shock and surprise at the recipient, "Well…well…if it isn't my lovely lady."

Back inside the apartment their staring contest hadn't progressed. Sam was confused on what she was apologizing for. With their relationship it could have been an array of things. Mercedes shifted from side to side before letting out a heavy sigh.

"I'm sorry for what I said"

Sam blinked, "Oh"

The tone of his voice made her feel self conscious, "Yeah…listen…the way it came out…I was upset."

Sam cast his eyes to the floor, "I understand, you don't have to apologize to me."

"Sam," she said calmly extending her free hand to his face, smoothing it over his check as he gave her a tearful look, "Baby I was wrong…I shouldn't have said it. I shouldn't have even been thinking it. I was wrong. I know things in life get hard and I shouldn't have blamed you. I'm grateful for you and for the munchkins. With everything going on I misdirected my anger and that's not fair to you. You've given up your whole life to move across the country to be with me-"

"But you are my life. I love my family but they are doing good. This family here needs me more," he said softly nuzzling her palm.

"Regardless there is no good excuse for what I said or how I made you feel. I need you to know that I love you and you mean more to me than anything. Together we are an unstoppable force but apart we are vulnerable. I also want to apologize for saying that you don't work as hard as I do. It's not easy, none of it is. If I didn't have you I don't know how I'd be able to make it through the day everyday."

He stared at her, cheeks stained with tears letting out a sniffle. Turning around he walked over to the crib and carefully placed a sleeping Isaiah in it. Returning he repeated the process with Aurora. Now they didn't have any interference just each other. Sam wrapped his arms around her waist, gathering her body close to his. Before she could speak again he ran his fingers through her hair, pressing her head against his bare chest. He shushed her quietly as he held her. Mercedes felt her emotions rise in her chest. It felt like forever since she felt his tenderness. Burying her head against him she slightly sobbed as he continued to soothe her. "I love you," he whispered bending down to kiss the top of her hair. Suddenly Mercedes broke out into a fit of giggles. Sam curious pulled back to look at her as she wiped her eyes, laughing.

"What's so funny?" he asked amused

"You"

"Me?"

"Yeah…I just realized I'm being comfortable by a smurf," she joked, poking his side

He squirmed, "I am Na'vi, not a Smurf," he scoffed, "I'm so offended that you'd offend my people this way."

"Your people?" she chuckled looking at his serious face, "Oh Sammy"

He gave her a warm smile, "Yes baby?"

"I don't care if you're green, red or Barney I still love you but…" her voice trailed as she pulled away from him, "If you got any of that blue stuff in my hair I am going to shave your eyebrows off in your sleep."

Sam protectively slapped his hand against his forehead, "That's cruel. I'd look funny."

"You look funny now"

"I'm a Native"

"You're so crazy"

"Crazy for you," he smiled.

A/N: I on and off get hit with writer's block sometimes and have to take a break. They made up! ^_^. Tbh I don't know what i'd do if I walked in on someone reenacting scenes from a movie. In the next chapter Mercy finds out about Travis and Sam attends his first photo shoot. Next updates for The Dead Can't Dance and A World Without You coming soon.