#lonewolfevans

Sam finished adding the last bit of tape to the box before adding it to the pile of wrapped presents on the bed. Wrapping presents in their bedroom was a long-standing holiday tradition since the arrival of their nosy daughter. Alex would try just about anything to peek at the gifts tucked neatly under the tree. From pouting to cuteness overload, their little girl was shameless. She'd been properly distracted tonight, though. Between making cookies with Mercedes and later snuggled between her parents while singing along to the Muppets Christmas Carol, Sam figured by the time she'd remember to hustle them about her gifts, sleepiness would kick in. She gave little trouble for bedtime, brushing her teeth and chattering away happily at the thought of waking up the next morning early as hell to check out her haul. And when Sam left her room, after several kisses and 'goodnight Daddys' later, he was confident they successfully navigate a Christmas without Alex hustling them into opening her gifts early. There were very few gifts under the tree, a few parcels from Sam's parents, Sugar, Mark, and Elodie, among others from friends. He figured he'd keep 'the good stuff' in their room until the next morning, where he'd sneak them out before Alex woke up. With the presents wrapped, he carefully placed the pile atop the chair in the corner and cleaned up the tape and supplies just as Mercedes entered the room. "We're good, right" he asked his fiancee as he pulled back the comforter. "She's still knocked out? 'Cause last year, she gave us the ol' fake-out with the sleep. She's way too good at that, by the way."

Mercedes pulled out every trick in the book to get Alex to finally give in to sleep. After she said goodnight to her daddy, she was upright again, her tiny fists in a ball as she shook with excitement. It took a full minute of tickling to get her to lay down again, with loud squealy giggles, conceding with an "Okay, Mommy, okay!" Once she was under the covers again, she wanted something read from her poetry book, and then a lullaby. Finally, her lids grew heavy and she was off. Mercedes lingered for a little bit until she heard the faint whistles of her daughter's snoring. She stood, turning on the nightlight on her dresser and turning off the overhead before leaving with the door cracked a tiny bit like Alex wanted. When she got to her own bedroom, she smiled as she saw Sam finish off the pile of gifts. "We're good," she answered. "She faked you out, but with a little extra work, she's gone. Snoring and everything." She took the clip out of her hair, walking up and setting it on her nightstand before shaking her curls out. "We won't see her till 6:30 AM at least," she half joked.

Sam pushed up the sleeves to the onesie he wore (at his daughter's insistence) and fixed his fiancee with a smile. "I figured 5:30, so an hour later's a damn blessing." Easing into the bed, Sam settled against the pillows and patted his lap for her. "Gives me time to give you your first present of the holiday. I'd put a bow on it, but there wasn't one big enough." He punctuated the cheesy line with a playful smirk.

Mercedes was in her own onesie, finding it comfortable and needing much less convincing than her wolf. She watched him, unable to hide her smile at his words. "I cannot believe you just said that," she replied, laughing and pressing her palm to her face. Still, she got onto the bed, moving across it so she could straddle his lap and push her hand through his hair. "You don't think it's too early? I mean, technically it's not Christmas yet."

Sam laughed because he enjoyed seeing her happy reactions, and as she settled in his lap, his hands skimmed up her soft sides before resting on her hips. "You know that was smooth, though." He gave a content hum at the feel of her fingers and leaned in a for a kiss, pressing his lips tenderly to hers. "You really want me to wait 'til midnight, Princess? 'Cause I can put this on hold...but just so you know, I'm real okay with you taking an early peek at this particular present. It's a good one. And it'll get me outta this damn onesie, so bonus."

Mercedes smirked against his lips, moving her fingers to his neck and shaking her head at his words. "Well, there is that rule where you can open one of your gifts on Christmas Eve. So I'm pretty sure this counts. Though if you want to keep on the onesie while you give me your present, I won't protest. You look cute as a button," she teased, grinning and leaning in for another kiss, lingering on his lower lip and tugging on his zipper.

Sam grumbled into the kiss at that 'cute', and teased her bottom with a heavy swat. "I ain't leaving this damn thing on. Got me looking like an overgrown kid. Ain't nothing cute about this..." Despite the protests he was content to let her undress him, fully getting into the unwrapping part when a faint noise made him break the kiss. Pulling back, Sam frowned slightly and glanced up at his fiancee. "Did you hear that?"

Mercedes unzipped the onesie, letting her fingers drag over his abdomen, managing a small pout when he pulled away. She'd been much too distracted to hear the noise, but she looked around anyhow, furrowing her brow. "No...what was it?" Her eyes widened and she cupped his face with both of her hands. "Sammy...do you think it was Santa?"

Sam Serious or not, the question caught him off-guard and Sam pushed out a loud laugh. "Daddy's the only Santa in this house. And he's got his hands full right now." Those same hands pulled at the zipper of her onesie just as he captured her lips in another kiss. The noise was far from his mind once he deepened the kiss, as quick fingers slipped inside the soft pajamas to trace against silky skin. But then he heard it again, the sound of rustling and Sam broke away to listen. "Yeah...that ain't Santa. But something's up." With a small, irritated growl, he lifted Mercedes from his lap and yanked up the zipper of his onesie. His slippers were at the side and he stuffed his feet inside and shuffled out of the room and down the hallway. It was dark, save for the glow from the well-lit tree was visible, glowing brighter the closer he got to the open living space. His footsteps were silent when he crept past the kitchen and towards the living room where the tree was positioned in front of the bank of windows. Beneath the branches, he spotted the reason for the rustling, sporting matching plaid onesie and a satin cap atop her little head. Sam moved closer, hovering for a bit as Alex quietly sifted through the parcels under the tree. With her back to him, it was easier to grab her up, his grin growing when she squealed in surprise and wiggled in his arms. "Someone's supposed to be sleeping. You gave your Mama the ol' fake out too, huh?" Tossing Alex over his shoulder, Sam carried the little imp back to the bedroom and tossed her on the bed beside Mercedes. Alex giggled and waved happily at her mother, looking positively pleased with herself while Sam shook his head. "Look who I found creeping on the presents."

Mercedes was sitting cross-legged on the bed when he returned, carrying their daughter in his arms. She immediately said "Of course," throwing her hands up and rolling her eyes. "You're becoming quite the little actress." She got off of the bed, walking up and poking the girl's nose, glad she and Sam hadn't gotten very far in their activities. "I should have known when I didn't hear her humming." She took Alex from him, walking over to the bed and tossing her down before she commenced to tickling. She ignored her pleas to stop between loud laughter and Mercedes simply shook her head. "You brought this on yourself. Trying to trick Mommy and Daddy like that..." she said, poking the little girl some more.

Sam watched the display, smiling when Alex gasped for air against the tickling, legs kicking and he sat on the edge of the bed while she tried to wiggle away from her mother's fingers and into his lap. "Nope. This is what happens when you don't stay in bed, lil bit. Take your tickles." When it was reaching the point where she'd probably get the hiccups and Mercedes let up, Sam laughed at their little rebel, sprawled out on the bed and still fighting giggles. "I sorry..." she told them. "Uh-huh..." Sam replied in his sternest voice, even as he leaned to blow a few raspberries into her chubby cheeks, warm and flushed from excitement. "You need to get some sleep. Only way you're opening any presents is if you go to bed and stay there for at least six hours. No sneaking or peeking."

Mercedes smirked. "You only get Christmas presents when you're a good girl, and good little girls go to bed when they're supposed to," she told her, opening her arms. Alex crawled right into her mother's embrace, wrapping her arms around her neck, still giggling. "We need to at least move towards your room, little lady." Alex held out a hand, opening and closing her fist toward Sam. "Come wif us, Daddy." Mercedes held her, walking out of the room and down the hall so she could attempt to put her in bed again. She went willingly since her rummaging had proved unsuccessful. "Now. Let's try this again."

Sam couldn't resist his insistent daughter, so he followed his girls to Alex's room, down the darkened hallway and back to the space softly illuminated by her night-light. With both parents on bed watch, Alex was obedient, climbing back into her bed and waiting while Sam tucked her in. He sat on the edge and leaned in, draping himself atop her small frame just to hear her giggle. "Alright, Lexi-baby. You gotta really hit the hay. Quicker you fall asleep, the quicker you'll get to see all your presents. You wanna check 'em out, right?" His smile grew soft when she nodded enthusiastically. Already he could tell she was fighting sleep, lids drooping and he watched her attempt to hide a yawn from her parents behind her little hand. "Story, Daddy" she whined, pulling out one last stalling technique and Sam sighed and looked up at Mercedes. "Alright. ONE last story. We can talk about your first Christmas."

Mercedes smiled at her fiancé when he looked at her, pulling up the chair beside her dresser and sitting by the bed. "Baby's first Christmas," she followed up, licking her lips as she thought for a moment. "'Twas the night before Christmas, and Mommy felt as though she was still kinda recovering from giving birth." Alex looked confused for a moment then giggled. "When I was borned?" Mercedes laughed. "Yes. It wasn't that long before Christmas time when you were borned. So you were this little when it was Christmas time," she explained, exaggerating by holding her fingers close together.

Sam nodded. "And since you were so little and new, you cried...a lot. And never slept...like now." He gave her another stern look and smiled when he got the desired giggle, soft and tired as it was. "But we loved you so much, even if we never got to sleep, either. But the night before Christmas, you only slept for a little bit. And cried hard. And you were all red and warm. You had a really high fever." Green eyes blinked sleepily and Alex peered up at her parents. "Sick?" she asked mid-yawn and Sam nodded. "Yup. You scared Mama and Daddy 'cause you were just borned and we were still new to having you around. Nana and Pop-Pop and Grandma Elodie weren't here yet to help, so it was just us. We took you to the hospital, and the doctors took real good care of you. Gave you medicine to bring down your fever..." Sam wasn't expecting her next question, worry-filled and sleepy as it was. "Did you cry, Daddy? Were you scared?" He was truthful with his baby, and nodded. "Daddy did cry a little. We were both scared. But Mommy sang, for you and me, and I wasn't so scared anymore. You just drifted off to sleep, smiling a little and I felt better. And when you woke up, it was Christmas and your fever was all gone." Alex's full lips tugged into a smile that turned into a yawn and she shut her eyes. "I like Mama's songs." Sam smiled at that and nodded a little. "I like 'em too, baby. Mommy's songs always make Daddy feel better. She's magic like that."

Mercedes bit her lip as she watched him tell the story. A small shiver ran up her back and she snapped out of it when he was done speaking. She loved them both so much and if she wasn't careful, she'd tear up right there. "Magic..." Alex murmured, pressing her face a little more against her pillow. Mercedes felt her cheeks warm and shook her head. "By the time our family got here to celebrate Christmas with us, you were all better. Like a holiday miracle. They hadn't seen you since the first week I had you and they were all so excited. Which is why you were spoiled beyond belief, and it has not changed." She grinned. "You're still in charge." Alex smiled a little and hummed in agreement, though her eyes were now closed.

Sam knew the story was an emotional one for them. He still caught feelings, thinking about that first brush with sickness and how it terrified them both. Bu the relief and happiness that followed were the memories he held onto the hardest. Sam leaned in and pressed a kiss to his daughter's cheek, smiling as she sighed out a 'Night-night.' "I sleep now. I promise." And he knew, just from the deep breaths and the soft hums in between that this sleep was for real. Just in case, he stayed a little longer and after fifteen minutes of hums, snores, and even breathing, he reached for Mercedes' hand. Long fingers threaded through small ones and he kissed her knuckles while standing up. Alex snuggled deeper under her blankets and Sam took one last look before leading his fiancee out of the room. With the night light on and the door open a crack, they were finally able to settle back in their own bed and Sam gave a tired sigh. "I feel like we're never gonna get sleep on Christmas Eve ever again with this girl."

Mercedes moved next to him, wrapping her arm around his middle and burying her face in his neck. "At least not until she's a teenager," she said, laughing a little. She was content to lay in silence for a few moments before realizing she wasn't that tired. And thinking back to where they were before interruption had her smirking a little. "You too tired to give me my Christmas gift now? Because if you are, I can tuck you in and we can postpone."

Sam sighed heavily at that, his eyes drifting shut while he cuddled her closer. But soon there was talk about Christmas presents and the interrupted unwrapping and he turned his head just in time to catch her smirk. He leaned in to kiss it with a low hum and shifted so she was pinned under his bulk and he settled comfortably between her pajama-covered thighs. "I'm never too tired for that. I mean, you can have this gift anytime you want. But it feels like a Christmas Eve present..." Hands braced on the bed, he rolled his hips and captured her lips in a deep kiss. The earlier exhaustion was still there, but on the back burner as he shifted his attention to fulfilling a promise to his girl. "How do you want your present, Princess? You can have it any way you want."

Mercedes grinned, reaching for his face so she could kiss him deeply. "So you're dedicated to giving me this present then." She had a thought, her smile growing after he asked her the big question. "First, I'm gonna need you to get out of that onesie. I wanna see my present in all its glory."

Sam nodded, murmuring his response in between the deep, unhurried kisses. "I'm always dedicated, when it comes to giving you want you want." He kept the steady rock of his hips, his front brushing her center with slow passes, curving and grinding while stealing more sweet tastes from her lips. Sam smiled at her first demand of the evening, knowing it'd be easy to comply with shedding the (admittedly--though he'd never admit it--comfortable) onesie. "I can do that, Princess." Sitting up on his knees, Sam slowly pulled the zipper down, the slider hitting its base conveniently nestled right above his crotch. Tugging his arms out of the onesie wasn't too bad, muscles rippling under warm skin as he shifted the snug fabric off wide shoulders and down his arms so the sleeves draped carelessly at his sides. He kissed her again, body hovering over her curvy frame while one hand worked to push the rest of the onesie off his hips. Things got a little dodgy around his thighs; it was proving difficult to keep up his kisses while trying to free his long legs in the process and with a very loud and very irritated growl, Sam pulled away, flopping back on the bed, broad back pressed into the mattress while he practically bicycle-kicked, pushing the pajamas down his thighs and wiggling them off his ankles. Breathless, he turned to Mercedes, face already fixed in his trademark scowl and pout. "This is your own damn fault, y'know. Making me wear this thing." He was so close to crossing his arms, feeling tired already from fighting with the holiday jammies. There was still the matter of his briefs and hooking his thumbs into the waistband of his underwear, Sam lifted his hips and tugged them off too, tossing them to the floor. "There. Present in all its glory."

Mercedes watched the show, biting her lip as her eyes drifted over his chest and arms. It'd been years now, but still, with a few slow kisses and the precise grind of his hips he made her seep through her boy shorts in record time. So she was excited, enjoying the display far too much until the struggle began and she had to cover her mouth to stop herself from giggling. When his legs began to flail, she couldn't help it. She grabbed a pillow, burying her laughter into it, even as he complained to her. "I didn't make you wear it," she said between giggles. When he finally got his briefs off, before her in a laying position breathing a little faster, she smiled. "I love it." Getting off the bed, she stood and shedded her own onesie, bending down to get the ankles off. She let him lay there, crawling back up to hover over him with her hair falling over one shoulder. "Like, really love it, even though it was so hard to unwrap," she joked, trailing a finger down the middle of his abs until she was able to wrap them all around his dick. She rested her knees on the bed, stroking him a little, grinning when she felt him twitch in her grasp.

Sam knew the giggles were coming, and it only made him frown harder. The big display of laughter had him grumbling, but the noises stopped once she followed suit, slipping out of her own onesie. Propping up on his elbows, Sam watched her crawl closer, the pout shifting to a soft smirk, especially when her fingers began to stroke him. Reaching up, Sam tucked a stray curl behind her ear, noting how beautiful she looked, dark hair wild and her chestnut eyes bright and playful. His head dipped back slightly as he thrust upwards, moving against her small hand and pressing more of his slowly hardening length into her palm. Licking his lips, he cupped her cheek and pulled her closer to capture full lips in a hard kiss. "You should sit on my tongue, Princess. C'mere, and lemme taste you. Keep stroking me like that, though."

Mercedes nodded, pecking his lips once more with a smile before bracing her hands on the bed, adjusting so she could place her thighs comfortably on both sides of his head. She arched her back so she could reach back and cup him, continuing to stroke just like he asked. She'd gotten better at being quieter (an adjustment one just has to make after having a kid), but she was still Mercedes. The first brush against her lower lips made her suck her mouth in to stifle the moan threatening to spill out.

Sam watched her shift into position, missing the warmth from the steady tugs of her hand, but happy when she settled once more. His head was cradled by soft, thick thighs and he lifted his chin, tongue snaking out to trace the folds he knew by heart. He moaned at the taste, those hers was louder and he gave a dark chuckle. It was a silent and personal challenge, pushing himself to be relentless, leaving her unable to stifle her sounds. It was terrible and mean but he couldn't help it, once he had that first taste of her. Still sweet, still addicting, sitting heavy like syrup with walls that felt like silk once he slipped his tongue inside. He took his time, lapping at the sticky cream and sucking relentlessly on her button. Sam was shameless with his attention, indulging in her secret tastes with rumbling moans and encouraging the rock of her hips while moving his own against her slackened strokes. He wasn't even mad about the lack of focus on his throbbing length, just as long as she ended up shaking on his tongue, now swirling relentlessly around her clit, stopping only to slurp at her wet and suck at the little button, knowing full well the constant change up would leave her a shivering mess.

Mercedes worked her fingers until she could barely focus with his tongue inside of her. She tried everything: biting her lip, her fist, covering her mouth...nothing mattered. She reached down, gripping his hair tightly to help, and to let him know how unfair he was being. She moved her hips against his tongue, holding the beadspread with her free hand. "Sammy...I can't..." She couldn't finish her sentence, feeling her release building up in her stomach and trying to fight it off from coming so quickly. Her thighs sank a little as holding herself up became more and more impossible. He switched it up, pushing her moans higher until she couldn't hold them in anymore. She came, completely coating his mouth with her cream, shaking as it took its time coursing through her.

Sam hummed against her mound, his hands curling around her thighs, gripping tightly and keeping her in place while he continued to tease her. He paid no mind to the fingers tugging at his hair or her pleas, focused on nothing but the release he knew was building quickly and he was rewarded with a sweet flood, moaning deeply and keeping hold of thick, trembling thighs. With a few final kisses to soaked, sensitive petals, he dropped his head back to the mattress with a satisfied sigh. Licking his lips, he couldn't help the smug grin and he smoothly flipped them over, cradling her back in his large hands and settling her against the mattress before moving between her legs. "You can never be quiet." He pressed the teases to her mouth in soft, searching kisses, parting her lips with his to share the traces of sweet he'd licked out moments before. "Still my good girl, though. Like it when you sing for me. How do you want me, Princess? Tell me what else you wanna do."

Mercedes would have scoffed at his words if she wasn't melting into each of his kisses, groaning a tiny bit into his lips. She wrapped her arms around him, threading her fingers through the hair on the back of his head before pressing her forehead to his. "I want you like this, right now," she told him, her voice only slightly louder than a whisper. "So I can see your face and feel you close to me. I wanna be wrapped up in my present." She smiled, leaning up and nibbling on his bottom lip, thrusting her hips up so she could brush his cock with her warmth.

Sam liked having her close, the skin to skin contact warming him all over. Gentle fingers brushed a few stray curls from her forehead and his lips tugged into an easy smile. Pressed tightly against where she was warmest and wettest for him, it didn't take much to lift his hips and with his free hand between them, line his length with her heat. Sam took his time, sinking slowly with short thrusts until he bottomed out with a deep sigh. Wrapped in her as he was, silky dark skin, plush curves, and her sweet smell...it wasn't long before his strokes picked up, sinking deeper just to feel that fluttering grip of her walls. Wrapping his arms around her middle, Sam sat back on his heels, pulling her up and into his lap. He liked it this way, arms tight around her, thrusting up and tapping her spot while still controlling their movements. Her hips bounced and he'd gently pull her back down to meet his strokes, seeking out that tight, wet clench. There was no need to ply her with questions; he knew how good it felt. How fast she liked it, how tightly she needed to be held. How she liked hearing him, and how easy it was to moan for her because she knew his body just as well as he knew hers. His legs ached from the position but he didn't mind the burn, not when he was able to have her just the way he wanted, close and completely. No rush, just deeper ins and soft kisses to her lips while he whispered his love between rumbling moans.

Mercedes sighed, wrapping her legs loosely around him and burying her moans into his mouth, kissing him deeply and dragging her fingers along his warm skin. She uttered his name, dropping her kisses to his neck as her noises grew raspy. She loved this, being able to look up into his eyes as they moved together. Her body was always reluctant to let him go, clenching tight and wet around his length with each deep stroke. "You're so perfect..." She nearly hated breaking the silence, but it spilled out as her walls tightened faster and her middle swirled. She was close again, reaching for his sides to slow them down even more. She returned his words, whispering how much she loved him, and this, between slow kisses and swipes of her tongue along his lips.

Sam gave her a small smile, his cheeks warming from the words that broke their comfortable silence. Despite the protests from his body, eager to surge forward and barrel towards his release, Sam allowed her to guide him into an even slower grind. It was damn near tortuous, feeling every single pulse whenever she sank down, and tight heat that wouldn't let him leave. Breaking their kisses, he buried his face in her neck, inhaling the sweet scent of sweat and her body wash as he whined his pleasure. Their movements stilled to barely there thrusts and gentle rocking, enough to keep the clenches steady while he shivered and edged his climax.

Mercedes couldn't hold off any longer with one more slow, throbbing push on her spot. Her mouth opened, fixed in an O as though her voice had left her as she peaked, her nails digging slightly into his back. She watched him, wanting to see it play out on his face, her toes curling and legs shaking around his frame.

Sam: It was those final flutters that did him in, and he joined her with a shaky moan and his arms wrapped around her, needing the anchor. Between the burn of his overworked thighs and the strain of his release, Sam was drained. But he still managed to lift his head for a few soft kisses. Sweaty and tired, it was all he could do but smile and drink in the glow under her skin, flushed cheeks and bright eyes. It was easy then to fall back on the bed against the pillows and finally stretch his legs with a low groan. He kept a hold of her, fingers gently trailing a line from the nape of her neck to the small of her back. It felt so good to settle in quiet, to relax in the blissful comedown and listen to her heartbeat slowly return to normal. Sam breathed out a deep chuckle and brushed his lips to her temple. "Did you enjoy your present, Princess? 'Cause it's the first of many."

Mercedes was content to lay that way for a while, their chests rising and limbs pressed together. Her head rested on his shoulder and she took the opportunity to kiss whatever she could reach. His question made her laugh a little, tilting her gaze up to meet his for a moment. "Oh? Was that merely my Christmas Eve preview? Because it was fantastic." She was quiet for a few moments before laughing again. "You know you're gonna have to put the onesie back on for when Alex wakes up in the morning. We can't unwrap gifts if we're not matching."

Sam laughed. "I meant actual presents, baby. But yeah, I plan on regifting this. You can get it whenever you want." The idea of shuffling back into that onesie had him grumbling, though and Sam hid the noises in her curls. "Who the hell made up that rule? 'Cause I don't like it. But I guess if y'all are gonna judge me, I'll put it back on. We should probably put 'em on soon though. You know she's gonna pop up in here early as fuck and jump on the bed. Last thing Daddy needs is stray kick to Mommy's favorite present."

Mercedes burst into laughter, pressing her face into his neck to muffle it. "Yes, we need to. It's gonna be working a lot through New Year's, so we don't need anything like that to happen." After thinking about it and sighing, she finally pulled away from him so she could crawl off of the bed and retrieve her onesie from its place on the floor. She put it on with ease, zipping up the front before getting onto her side of the bed again. "Time to attempt to get some sleep."

My parents are moving. 

That's the big news and the reason they wanted me back in Lima. Wanted to break it to me in person, I guess. Dad got an offer to teach literature at Ohio State. They'll be moving to Columbus in April. Which seems far away but not long, considering there's gonna be a new baby in a few months.

They were happy to hear about the wedding. Setting a date and picking the location. I guess it's all happening for real now. Kinda crazy, wrapping my head around all this stuff. Even weirder, being back in Lima. The town hadn't changed much. Didn't really expect it to. It still didn't feel like home, and I suppose that feeling was calming, being familiar and all. 

So many memories in that shithole of a town. Things I'd forgotten. Things I'd rather forget...

The spot where I crashed my father's truck and nearly killed myself, and my girl. I still get a weird stiff feeling in my shoulder, when it rains. 

The cemetery, and visiting there with Santana and holding her while she cried. I don't like to think about that night. Or the Homecoming Dance. Still hurts.

The hospital. I fucking hate that place for so many reasons.

I didn't look anyone up. Didn't see the point. Anyone who mattered is far away from Lima or on their way out. The Pavs still have their bullshit with the Titans. Few deaths and lockups on both sides. That kinda calmed things. Now it's mostly angry words and the occasional brawl. Whatever. 

That ain't my life anymore. The scope of who I was in that town, and what I could have turned into if I stayed....leaving was always the better choice. The only choice. I was so sick, from the drugs and alcohol, the depression and self-loathing couldn't shake. Being back in that environment, back in the very room I used to hide away in...I wonder how I did this for so long. I was barely functioning. Holding on to so much hurt and pain and anger...I can't help the shame that creeps in, thinking about how my behavior damaged me and hurt the ones around me. 

It wasn't all bad. There are good places and memories attached here, with people and friends I've managed to hold onto. Sugar, Jake, Trinity...even Joe. They're all out of this damn town now. That's for the best. 

And her. I met my soulmate at my lowest point. I fell for her first, here. Fought with her. Fell in love. I  loved her even when I hated myself. And we're both still standing. 

Now, we're finally getting married. As it should be. I'm sober, with a life I'm proud of. With a daughter I'm in awe of, every damn day. As it should be.

Don't see much of a reason to dwell on Lima. With my parents leaving, guess I can finally pack up these remnants of that broken boy grieving over ghosts and haunted by his hurt and past mistakes. 

Mercedes had finished helping in the kitchen, laughing and making small talk with Mary until the table was clear and everything was put away. It felt nice getting it all out of the way right after dinner. Now she was situated on the couch while Sam was upstairs putting Alex down for her nap. She knew the tike would be out in under a minute, considering how sleepy the food made her. She'd been squealing with joy as she ate her dessert, and her lids got heavy almost immediately. Mercedes smiled at the thought, distracted for a moment by Elodie sitting next to her to watch the football game on that she didn't understand.

Sam was grateful for the time spent with his family. It'd been a few months since he'd last seen his parents and while he had reservations about the Lima of it all, he was still thankful to be around them. His daughter was in her element; Alex had spent the better part of the day being doted on by her grandparents. They spoiled her, from belated birthday gifts to the candy his father snuck to the little girl when he thought Sam wasn't looking. They'd pay for it in a sugar rush, but surprisingly she wasn't too hyper, sticking to singing her little songs and dancing while she helped Elodie set the table. She was a big girl now, something she proudly declared to her grandparents and Elodie whenever someone would offer their help. Sam loved the way his parents were delighted by her, and he caught Mary brushing tears from her cheeks a few times whenever Alex would crawl into her Pop-Pop's lap for a hug. He supposed that was just pregnancy hormones. Despite being in the home stretch, Mary was still in good spirits. Sam didn't see any of the mood swings Dwight griped about but he was sure Mary was just running on a high of having family over. With the meal finished and everyone tuckered out, relaxing was the name of the game. Alex had fallen asleep almost immediately afterwards, curled against the swell of Mary's stomach while her grandmother softly stroked her sandy-colored curls. The picture they made was precious and Sam was hesitant to move her but he knew his baby was prone to wiggling in her sleep and he didn't want it to disrupt his mother. So rising from his spot on the loveseat, he crossed over his father, who was busy scowling at the Cowboys losing spectacularly to the Eagles to scoop up his daughter. He'd take her upstairs while Mercedes rested, a large hand rubbing Alex's back when she fussed. Her head was on his shoulder when he slowly carried her up the stairs and down that familiar path to his old bedroom. Once he gently laid her down on the bed, he covered her little frame with a soft blue blanket, thrown casually over the arm of the chair in the corner. It'd been years....but the room still looked the same. Comic book posters and framed street art lined the walls. Brand New posters plastered around the room. And as he settled on the bed beside his little girl, he knew if he glanced up, he'd still see those same glow in the dark stars. His parents never changed anything in his space. And Sam realized just how much he'd left behind when he peeled out of Lima that night, with Mercedes at his side. Alex whimpered in her sleep and Sam moved closer, smiling softly when she shifted against him.

Mercedes excused herself when Elodie, who'd never actually seen a football game, asked Dwight to explain to her what the Cowboys did wrong. She smiled on her way up the stairs, listening to the conversation as it faded in her ears until she was outside of Sam's bedroom to check on them. She stood in the doorway, her gaze falling on where the two rested on his bed, their daughter already fast asleep, snuggled into his side. She began to scan the room, shaking her head at how it looked exactly the same, right down to the mild clutter. When they left, he'd only taking the most important things. It was all he had time to. Same with her, except her landlord had no doubt tossed or sold everything left in her apartment. And her old house had probably been bought. So while everything remained in its place here, when she thought about it, there wasn't much evidence of her left in Lima. Just memories. His room held the best ones, some emotional, some slightly painful, but they all meant something, and they were all...so important. She'd stared at this posters, waiting to hear him stir, and she'd memorized the formation of those glow-in-the-dark stars while he held her and one of them, or both of them tried to hold back their hurt until it completely spilled over. Finally, she pulled herself from her thoughts and walked over to the bed, reaching down to ruffle her fiance's hair. "Hey."

Sam: Laying there, comfortable as he was, with Alex pressed close, Sam knew he was liable to fall asleep. His eyes were drifting shut when he felt familiar fingers in his hair. Olive eyes flew open and he blinked a few times before smiling softly at his fiancee. "Hey, yourself. I was staying up here for a little, just in case Alex woke up. You know how confused she gets, right out the gate." Clearing his throat, Sam turned a little and made to sit up. "Had enough of my dad glaring at the TV?"

Mercedes smiled and nodded at his explanation, moving closer when he sat up, her shins against the bed as she rested an arm on his shoulder. "Well now he's been tasked with explaining to a French woman what happened over that whole game, so I figured I'd come check on you all during that potential trainwreck. Meanwhile, I'm pretty sure your mom's trying not to giggle," she told him, smirking and looking around the room again. "This is crazy. Everything's the same in here. It's like being in the Twilight Zone."

Sam huffed out a laugh because he could practically hear his father laying out the rules to Elodie, who was probably smiling politely while his mother shook her head. "Of course. He's gonna ramble on til they change it to HGTV." He followed her gaze, glancing around at the large time capsule and his lips quirked into a faint smile. "Yeah...I was just thinking the same thing. It's really weird...look." He pointed above the bed to the glow stars. "I think my mom boxed up the clothes in the closet, but this is all the same. I'm sure if you checked the bathroom, you might find some of your old body wash in there."

Mercedes rolled her eyes, reaching around a little to play with the hair at the nap of his neck. "You will always blame me for that. Like I never used a pillow and you're just as quiet as ever." Her smiled faded a little. "I was thinking about how everything's pretty much gone that has to do with me. If my shower gel's still here, then that's about it. Well...out of the positive things."

Sam knew they'd never agree, but it was one of his favorite fights. "Yeah, okay. I know what I know." It really did hit him, just how much she'd left behind and lost in their departure and her parents' move. Physical things like furniture and other intangible traces he wondered if she thought about, as well. "Yeah...I know being back here...however weird it is for me, it's gotta be like, twenty times that for you."

Mercedes continued to absently play with his hair as she thought. "Yeah...but you know, I grew up here. So it's bound to have that affect. I'm just glad I haven't run into anyone. Lord knows I don't need reunions," she joked. "It's just weird. But it's nice because we're here now and none of the stuff from back then is even a factor in our lives."

Sam: "Getting away was still the best thing for us. Believed it then. Still believe it now." Sam never had intentions to return. He wondered why his parents remained, why they didn't at least make a move to box up his things. Looking around at the space, it still felt familiar...but oddly foreign. Time froze. And he wondered if all of Lima would feel that way, or just inside those four walls. "We haven't been out much to run into anyone," he replied. "Didn't know if I felt like exploring the town. A long ass time, but I dunno..."

Mercedes cocked her head when he trailed off. "What are you thinking in there?" she asked, gently tapping his head. "I guess Lima's got it's good spots. Maybe we can take a small tour in the truck. See if the Lima Bean's still there. If the school still looks the same. Or my house. I guess it'd be neat to see."

Sam glanced up when she tapped him. He wasn't thinking of anything in particular, certainly not what she'd just suggested, and his brow arched in surprise. "Well...I guess...wait...'neat'? Who are you, with that word?" His smile was teasing as he softly kissed her cheek. "If you wanna go, we can. Look around and see what's what. The grandparents can keep an eye on the cub, if you wanna head out now."

Mercedes grinned. "It came to me and I wanted to try something new. I thought 'neato' was probably too much." She shrugged. "But with you talking about it, the idea came. We can slip out for a little bit and do that. Shouldn't be more than an hour or two." She slipped out of his lap, smoothing out her dress and smiling down at him. "Come on."

Sam was still judging, just a little as he made to stand. It didn't help that 'neato' was brought into the conversation and he shook his head. "You thought right." With one last check on their daughter, Sam headed out the room and downstairs. His father had seemingly fallen into some kind of turkey-induced nap and his mother and Elodie took advantage of the break to change the channel from football to a movie. "We're gonna take a little drive," he announced to the two older women, who seemed surprised but nodded and assured them Alex would be fine. He grabbed their jackets from the hall, shrugging into his leather and fishing out the keys before stepping outside. It'd grown colder and he walked quickly to the truck, helping Mercedes into the passenger side and hauling his bulk into the driver's seat afterwards. Pulling out of the driveway, Sam wasn't entirely sure where to go. At least where they were supposed to start on this nostalgia tour. But he figured coasting down the main streets through town was good enough. The radio was low and he cranked the heat up while he drove, a little surprised at how quickly the streets he'd sort of forgotten over the years were coming back to him. "I can't believe the Lima Bean is actually open today," he remarked as they passed his former place of employment. From the window, the coffee shop looked the same. Bright lights and holiday decorations already up. "Who is seriously clamoring for a latte tonight?"

Mercedes was completely distracted, staring out the window as he drove, noticing certain popular spots for Titans and shaking her head at certain memories. When he slowed down in front of the Lima Bean, she stared, barely hearing him comment on it. It was on Pav territory, so she was never a frequent visitor -- not like Santana, anyway. But she did know it was open on Thanksgiving. Before Sam even moved to Lima, and before she was a Titan, this was one of the places in town she could come to. Her friends were all with their families, and her family always used it as a networking opportunity, completely forgetting about her existence after she was introduced to the right people. She'd be reminded beforehand to stay out of the way. So thanksgiving evenings were spent in the park, in her room, or at the Lima Bean, because back then, something felt comforting about being around other people who had no place better to be on the holiday. Like she'd be okay with it one day. Finally, Sam's words sank in and she shook her head. "Anybody, I guess. Maybe it's the muffins or the sweet tea. Stop the car for a sec." She continued to stare on, thinking about how sometimes she picked Santana up when she needed a ride, or how she came here to get a copy of their homework assignment from Sam, who she could not stand. "And that's where I punched Ryan in the face," she said quietly, with a faint smile, finishing her thoughts aloud for some reason.

Sam did as she requested, easing the truck to a stop near the entrance of the brightly lit coffee shop. He'd picked up on her quietness, noting how deep she was in her thoughts and he wondered where her head was. Though what she blurted out wasn't something he was expecting at all and his gaze turned from the road to his fiancee and the faint smile she wore. The memory of that day was distant, but he hadn't forgotten it. Sam supposed he'd remember watching the confrontation from behind the counter with his jaw clenched tight, seeing Mercedes' tense shoulders while dealing with the unapologetic boy. He remembered her leaving, rushing out of the Bean in a hurry and Ryan following her. Saw the hit and her dropped purse. And Sam vividly remembered what went down afterwards, too. His expression was grim when he regarded the alleyway ahead. "That was one hell of a hit too," he replied, his voice careful.

Mercedes turned to face him, her small smile widening just a little. "It was, wasn't it? Considering the height difference. When I think about it, the Bean's pretty significant. That night, I realized how strong I was. Not...physically, but just...inside. If you know what I mean. And here, in your car, was the first time I was kind of confronted with the fact that I liked you." She looked out the window again, trying to picture them in the parking spot. "I just...liked talking to you, and watching you talk. And you were funny, and you paid attention to me. Even in your irritation," she said, smirking. "I appreciate this place, I guess is what I'm saying. On to the next one?"

Sam did agree with that; the little coffee shop did hold a great deal of importance. For the both of them. It wasn't just his job; he'd met Santana there, back when the town was new but boring and she was flirtatious and fun. And when things soured, when he'd nearly caught a beatdown from some drunk Titans while leaving work, it's where Blaine stepped in and became a friend. It was a hangout spot for Pavs and the life he had in Lima even though most days he lived on the outskirts of all that activity. It was still significant. Still special. He supposed that was a good thing. "Physically, you were always tough. But I get it." Sam eased the car down the street, leaving the Lima Bean in his rearview. "So here, in this truck...at the Bean....you realized you liked me. Was that the night you needed to copy an assignment and asked for my number...online....in public?" He gasped dramatically and pressed a hand to his chest. "My stars, Miss Jones. No wonder you were so surly and quiet that night. You were thinking about my lips, weren't you? Admit it."

Mercedes rolled her eyes, glancing out the window to watch the buildings pass. "To be fair, when I asked for your number, I was seriously thinking about the assignment. Somehow I didn't think about the fact that I was asking in public. Your lips are just there. I might have thought about them, but it didn't change that you drove me insane. After that night I started thinking about your mind." She was quiet for a few moments, counting streetlights as she thought. "We should go to McKinley. I still know a way to get in after hours. Thanks to Titans being really unimaginative when it came to group activities."

Sam caught the eyeroll and his grin grew wider. "You liked my lips, my mind, my ass, my truck, my arms, and my Frank Ocean album. But I won't embarrass you further." His amusement dimmed a little when they passed the cemetery, his thoughts briefly drifting to the last time he was there, and the reason. But he didn't dwell. Not when she was suggesting something that made him glance over in surprise. "Uh....we should?"

Mercedes nodded, ignoring his comments despite the smile she tried to hide. "Why not? We haven't been there in years. And...I kinda feel like it's the only place here that may have a trace of me." She turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow. "You think it's a bad idea?"

Sam shook his head. "No...I don't think it's bad. I think we're adults now and breaking in's kinda ridic. But the sixteen year old Wolf in me is convinced there's still a badass streak somewhere under these responsible dad layers." With that he shrugged and made a sharp left, heading in the direction of the high school. "Let's do it." The drive was a familiar one, and though it was dark outside, it was still easy to navigate the Lima streets. There were a few outside lights on when Sam turned into the long drive in front of McKinley and he squinted ahead. "Don't seem like there's any cars around. Where should I park?"

Mercedes laughed and shook her head. "I'm not talking about taking a trash can to the double doors and breaking a window. There are just some doors that don't lock anymore that no one knows about." She smiled when he agreed to do it, biting her lip when the school came into view. "Park by the west entrance near the football field," she told him, pointing. When he pulled around, she unbuckled and got out when the engine stopped, smoothing her dress and heading over to an iron door by the dumpsters. It was weird, how she expected seeing certain areas to make her twitch or get apprehensive, but it all seemed so long ago, that it didn't affect her as strongly as it once did. Some places just meant mistakes. She yanked on the door handle, jiggling it and moving the entire rusted key section aside. With a pull, the door creaked loudly and she walked in, waving for Sam to follow. Down a narrow hall and through another door found them in the boy's locker room. "See? Hardly badass. Minimal effort."

Sam: "See well now you're just ruining the mood. 'Cause I want a trashcan window smash." Sam did as she instructed, smiling faintly when he remembered where the west entrance was, the entrance that led out to the student parking lot. Those same stone steps when he caught one of his first real solo glimpses of her. He parked the truck in one of the front spots and followed Mercedes to the door. Minimal it was, their breaking and entering and he scoffed. "I knew from back then the Titans weren't shit. The way y'all bragged about sneaking into this fuckin' dump, you'd think it was Fort Knox. All you need is some ninety year old security guard with narcolepsy to make this the easiest job ever." The stench from the boys locker room made him wrinkle his nose and grabbing her hand, he breezed down the aisles in search of the exit. "Fuckin' hated that room then, and I don't like it now. Got into too many fights and a few 'almosts' in that locker room."

Mercedes couldn't help but grin when he scoffed. She stroked the back of his hand with her thumb as they exited the locker room. "There, there. It helps, actually being from Lima and knowing the town inside and out. Made us look like geniuses." She nodded, licking her lips when he mentioned locker room fights. "That's one of the situations where I would not have wanted to be a fly on the wall. For a lot of reasons." The main one was how often her name or nicknames were brought up among them. She could only imagine what they talked about in a room full of boys, and the amount she heard in the hallways was enough to last a lifetime. Once they were out in the hall, she exhaled and looked around. "Looks exactly the same," she said, beginning to walk down the middle of it.

Sam resisted the urge to grumble by kissing her hair as they strolled through the locker room. He was glad she understood his irritation with this particular spot and the memories it held. One of the most frustrating places in McKinley. Epicenter of testosterone and trash talk, where most guys ran their mouths and she was a recurring topic. Before they were together, he never paid attention. He was uninterested in bragging assholes and their conquests. But after that day on the steps, when he caught that private glimpse of her, and when they grew closer and she allowed him more of those private glimpses....it was difficult to remain neutral. Even in the spats in their early days, he never brought that bullshit to her feet. She didn't deserve the cruel words and nasty comments. She never did. Sam was silent, his grip tightening on her hand and only loosening once they finally passed through the locker room. The smell of the hall was much better. Clean floors and something stale he couldn't quite put his finger on. Relaxing the tight clench of his jaw, he looked down and nodded at his fiancee's observation. She was right. "Feels like nothing's changed. Even in the dark. I'm sure the same inspirational posters are up." He held up their joined hands and kissed her knuckles. "This is different, though. Never coulda done that while walking down this hall. I think our English classroom is right up ahead. And this is the spot where Schue would wait to watch you breeze down the hallway."

Mercedes turned her nose up immediately. "I wonder if he's still teaching here. I'd never met a Spanish teacher who knew like, zero Spanish," she said, swinging their arms a little. As they approached the English room, she let go of his hand to walk inside, looking around and feeling a small shiver run up her back. "It's amazing how being in here makes high school feel like it just happened while at the same time...like it was forever ago. I could probably still remember where people sat, if I tried." She looked at the walls, smirking a little before turning to him. "You were right about the posters." She walked up to the desk she remembered occupying and sat down, leaning forward with her elbows on the table. "Apparently there's a paper due a couple days after thanksgiving break," she noted, pointing to the schedule written by the teacher in dry-erase marker. "Ain't that a bitch."

Sam: "Something tells me he doesn't have any other place to go, so I'm sure he's still here...being useless and leering at teenage girls." Part of him was cool with breezing by the classroom but he understood what Mercedes talked about, that strange limbo of nostalgia and deja vu and something else he couldn't quite describe. It was weird, wandering into the room and seeing the same setup of desks. Four long rows of eight desks...and sure enough, the same inspirational English posters lining the walls. While Mercedes sat at her old desk, Sam hopped up on the one in front of hers, planting his booted feet on the seat. "We had some great fights in this room," he remarked with a faint smile. He recalled sitting behind her, foot on the back of her chair which he knew bothered her, judging from the tenseness in her shoulders. "You were always so hot when you got mad. I used to enjoy those glares you'd shoot me, while pretending you weren't checking me out. Still do."

Mercedes looked up at him, unable to hide her smile. "You love to aggravate," she said, narrowing her eyes a little. "And now I'm planning on marrying you. There's clearly something wrong with me." She leaned on her palm, keeping her gaze fixed on him, noting the subtle changes in his build and general demeanor since high school. The tensity that was always below the surface, even after they started dating, was just gone. She wasn't looking over her shoulder and forcing smiles, or fighting urges to simply hug him when she felt like she was hitting bottom. She realized she'd been silent for several moments and spoke up again. "So, it's still Thanksgiving. We're supposed to talk about what we're thankful for. At dinner, I said family, because it's true but we were also brief because we were standing over a table full of food. So," she said, dramatically clearing her throat. "Being here in Lima tonight makes this really easy. I'm thankful for our home. Because I never felt like I had one. Our place is beautiful, we have a beautiful daughter, and I wish I could tell my past self about all of it so she'd stop feeling like she's absolutely worthless. I'm thankful for you, and the fact that I am officially going to be able to call myself Mrs. Evans by next summer. I'm not gonna get sappy in our old English classroom, but I honestly struggle to put it into words without tearing up." She smiled, shrugging her shoulders. "You, with your boots on my chair, your snarky remarks online and your side-eye...just, completely changed my life. And sometimes I think about how you used to think so low of yourself and how I fell for you so quickly because I just saw this...incredibly talented, beautiful person with so many complexities who made me feel so safe. I wanted you, and I fit with you so perfectly that it scared the shit out of me. Still does, sometimes, if I think about it hard enough. But I do nothing but embrace it, and we created this perfect little girl, and I have so much to be thankful for, it's overwhelming." She laughed a little, biting her lip and scratching the desk. "Couldn't say all of that, standing over potatoes."

Sam shrugged casually, even as her smile warmed him all over. "You already know this. Just like I know you love pushing my buttons. Just works real well for us." That warmth grew when she finally spoke again, and he felt the heartfelt sincerity in the heated flush of his cheeks and the reddened tips of his ears. Usually, he was the one who overwhelmed her; with Mercedes, the level of comfortable brought out an honesty that humbled him. Made him love her even more, and appreciate how lucky he was to have a life with someone who kept him grounded. "Little heavy for potatoes, yeah." His voice was hoarse, so he leaned in instead and claimed her lips in a slow, grateful kiss. "I love you, Princess. I love our life. Our daughter. Knowing how far we've come...it amazes me. You amaze me. I know if it wasn't for your strength, I wouldn't be here today. So I'm thankful. Every damn day, I know I'm blessed."

Mercedes almost wanted to pout when he pulled away. The warm kiss partly reminded her that it had been a little while since they had alone time. It'd been a busy week. She smiled wide, listening to his words and tucking a bit of her hair behind her ears. It still gave her shivers when he said things like that. She stood, walking around to pull him close and peck his lips. "And I'm thankful for how gorgeous this wedding is going to be. Every time I think about the cabin I get excited again."

With a small grunt, Sam gripped the handle on the large case of microphones, lifting it easily and settling the case carefully into the back of the company haul truck. This was a pretty standard job; tech conventions were always simple. Mostly messing with microphones, setting up projectors and lighting, and making sure the audio was right for the room acoustics. Easy setup, easy takedown.

Sam didn’t mind days like this, working two or three gigs at the same time, constantly moving around with the same crew. They spent their shift working round the clock, with an hour or so break in between for meals. Most of the guys who worked the crews were older. Blue-collar working class types with wives and families. A few were Sam’s age, paying their way through college. He didn’t exactly fit into either category but he got along with them, just fine.

His work boots thudded heavily on the pavement while helping one of the younger crew members haul a large speaker on a dolly. Jordan was twenty-three and a grad student. And a talker, but he had a good sense of humor and worked hard. Forever smiling and full of jokes. People like that would normally put off the stoic blond, but Jordan’s easygoing demeanor kept work interesting.

Climbing into the truck, Sam pressed the button to lower the platform, watching Jordan push the speaker onto it before removing the dolly, leaning against the metal bar to wipe his forehead with the back of his hand.“Damn, I didn’t think it was gonna be so cold out. Should known better.”

“Yep.” Sam’s reply was a short grunt, leaning forward to grab the speaker, lifting with his knees and pushing it further into the truck near the cluster of audio equipment already inside. “Chicago weather, man. Changes on a dime.” He was thankful for the thermal he wore under his Stage Left t-shirt, and the beanie atop his head that kept his ears warm. Tugging at his worn work gloves, Sam decided a break was in order, sitting at the truck’s edge and pulling his phone from his jeans’ pocket to check the time. “Just another hour, and I’m done. Don’t have to work again til Monday.”

“Word?” Jordan shot him a happy grin. “So what, you getting into some Halloween shit? There’s gonna be parties all over Chi City this weekend.”

“Nah. No parties. None I know of. It’s my birthday tomorrow, so my girl’s probably planning something.” Sam shook his head and pushed his phone back into his pocket, trading the device for the pack of spearmint gum. He took a stick for himself and held it out for Jordan, who swiped a piece. The mention of birthday had the young man grinning brightly again, dark eyes lightning up and he tossed the foil wrapper at Sam’s head.

“Well shit, Happy Birthday! Damn, we should do something after work. Do the rest of the guys know?” Before Sam could stop him, Jordan pushed away from the dolly and hollered out to the rest of the crew who’d just arrived, carting the last of the equipment. “Yo, did y’all know Evans’ birthday is tomorrow?”

“Halloween? No shit. Happy Birthday, man.” That was from West, one of the older guys. Sam nodded in thanks and hopped down from the truck, shaking out the chill in his broad shoulders.

“You doing something, Evans?”

Sam shrugged. “Hanging with my fiancée. Maybe take our kid trick or treating.”

Devon, a guy a few years older than Sam snorted. He was alright, a little loud but otherwise tolerable, even if he did talk entirely too much shit. But that was most of the crew. Forever loud and cracking jokes. “Shit, you talking like you’re already married, man. How long y’all been together that she got your balls in her purse?"

There was a smattering of chuckles and Sam shot the dreadlocked man a short look, jaw clenched as he chewed his gum. He wasn’t mad; wasn’t really annoyed either. It was all part of the back and forth. “Better than them girls you talk to. You still ridin’ around with ‘Two-Pump Chump’ spray painted on the side of your car, man? ‘Cause you might wanna work on that.”

The chorus of ‘ohhhhs’ were loud and Jordan clapped Sam soundly on the back while the other guys closed up shop, locking up the truck in preparation for hauling everything back to the company warehouse. “Seriously, Sam. We should go out tonight. Job’s over, it’s Halloween. Least we can do is buy a few rounds. Ring in that birthday right.”

The blond tensed briefly at the mention of drinking. It always came down to this; after work, most of the crew headed over to one of the local bars for a nightcap. He never went, and after multiple declines, the guys stopped asking. He never explained why, simply citing prior engagements or exhaustion, or ‘family shit’. When they were on smoke breaks, Sam chewed gum. Stuck to juice and tea while the others chugged coffee and energy drinks to keep the strengths on long shifts. Sober and smoke-free, he kept his head down. He talked with a number of guys and had a solid relationship with his boss, but for the most part, he was content to do his job and keep to the background.

He was teased about being whipped, the guys faulting the fiancée he mentioned a few times for his ‘choir boy’ lifestyle. First few months on the job, it irritated the shit out of him. Now, he barely acknowledged it. He didn’t need close friendships, especially if it involved being in a bar, surrounded by drunk people.

Sam eased out of Jordan’s hold and walked around to the passenger side of the truck. “Nah, it’s fine. Gotta stop by the store, pick up some candy for the trick or treaters. Maybe next time.” With that, he hefted his large frame into the cab of the truck and slammed the door, watching through the side-mirror as Jordan joined the rest of the crew for a final smoke before they headed back to the warehouse.

Blowing a small, spearmint-flavored bubble, Sam pulled out his phone. He popped his gum, lips curving into a faint grin when the phone lit up and revealed his screensaver, a picture of Mercedes smiling happily while Alex giggled and waved at the camera.