Chapter 9

Over the next few days, Emma and Santana had met with the label execs to iron out the details of her tour. They needed her to play many small concerts, in malls, at parks and as many other public places as possible so that they could generate some buzz about her. If their plan worked, they could get her to be the opening act of some of the other artists signed to the label, and then hopefully by then she would have a strong enough fan base to do her own shows.

With Santana occupied for a few hours a day, Brittany and Quinn had the time to plan out the surprise, which had now taken the form of a lunch party. Brittany was in charge of calling everyone, and making sure they kept it a secret, while Quinn called various restaurants.

On Saturday morning, Santana woke up to an empty apartment and a note from Brittany.

'Morning baby, I took Quinn for another walk around the other side of the block. We'll probably be gone for two hours so you'll be gone for your meeting by the time we get back. I'll come by your studio when we're done and we can come home together. I love you sexy!"

Santana smiled fondly at the note, kissed it, and then pulled out a red wooden box from her bedside drawer and put it inside. There were hundreds of these kinds of notes that they had been exchanging since high school. Brittany had been keeping them the longest and had shown Santana the box when they started dating. Since then, Santana had started keeping the notes she received in the box as well.

Once she had tucked the box away, Santana made her way to the kitchen wondering what to eat for breakfast. Her dilemma was quickly solved as she turned the corner to the kitchen and saw a stack of pancakes with a bottle of syrup beside it, and coffee in the pot, another note stuck to it.

'I would have poured it out but I didn't know when you'd be up. Hopefully it's not cold ;)"

Santana smiled again, wondering how she got so lucky to find someone as sweet as Brittany. She walked to the cabinet to get a plate, then checked the time and realised she only had an hour to get ready and she hadn't showered yet. Instead of a plate she pulled out a container placed three pancakes in it, paused, and then placed a fourth (for Emma, she told herself), and then poured out a cup of coffee and hurried back to her room to pick an outfit. Draining half the coffee as she walked into the room, she placed the cup on the dresser and slid open the cupboard door. Once again her quandary was solved by a note on an outfit arranged on one hanger.

"I think you'd look super classy cute in this outfit. I think you should wear it. PS: Yes, I did buy you new shoes. Someone once told me that shoes make an outfitJ"

Santana laughed and shook her head. She remembered the day she had told Brittany that very clearly. Her mother had been forcing her to clear out her closet, and when they got to the shoes, Brittany had chastised her. "Santana what on earth do you need all of these for? I've only seen you wear like half of them before. I think you have a problem." "I don't Britt. Shoes make an outfit. I have to have options, otherwise what's the point of wearing clothes at all?"

Chuckling at the memory, Santana pulled off her pyjamas and walked into the bathroom.

40 minutes later, Santana was dressed, had done her hair and makeup and was running very, very late. She dashed out of her room hastily putting on her shoes and looking for her handbag and keys. Locating them on the floor by the couch and coffee table, and making a mental note to buy a key hook, she grabbed them and almost ran out the door. Before the door even closed though, she was running back in, grabbing the coffee she had placed on the counter, throwing open the box with pancakes, and drowning them in syrup, tossing in a fork and then running out again.

Brittany and Quinn had actually gone to the airport to pick up both her and Santana's parents. They had been waiting for close to thirty minutes when Brittany's phone chimed with a text.

"Santana just got into work." She told Quinn.

"How could she be late? You made her breakfast and picked out her clothes" Quinn asked incredulously.

Brittany shrugged. "Santana likes to take her time getting ready."

Quinn shook her head, but her reply was interrupted by the loud shouting of Brittany's 11 year sister Ashley.

"BRITTANY!"

Brittany whirled around in time to catch the girl who had launched herself at her.

"Ashley don't break your poor sister" Brittany's mother called from a few feet away as her and Mr Pierce hurried to catch up with their youngest daughter.

"Mum don't be silly. Britt's twice my age and a dancer. I can't break her" Ashley said laughing cheekily. Brittany laughed in amusement. She hadn't seen her sister in almost a year, and Brittany always loved to see her after she had spent long periods of time away from Santana. When Ashley had met Santana for the first time, she had been about to turn 5, and since then, the Pierces had always seen a dual personality in her. In Santana's presence, which was daily during high school, Ashley was sassy and tough, trying as hard as possible to be as cool as Santana was. But then, when she wouldn't see Santana for a few days, she'd be a cheeky troublemaker, milking her adorable puppy dog eyes and baby voice as much as possible.

Ashley's hair was a lot blonder than Brittany's almost looking white, and it fell halfway down her back in long curls. What was her most defining feature though, were her eyes. They were a stunning mixture of blue and green. Even Brittany had to admit that looking into those eyes and saying no was near impossible.

"You can if she isn't prepared." Their mum remarked, finally reaching her eldest daughter.

"Let me have a turn Ash" Their dad said, thumping her on the back to get her to jump down from Brittany's arms.

"No dad!" Ashley complained. "I haven't seen her in forever. I missed her so much. No one else can carry me anymore at hooomee".

All the Pierces and Quinn laughed at this.

"Hey girly" Brittany said, turning to her sister, knowing she was about to pout. "Why don't you go say hi to Quinn and I'll say hi to mum and dad and then I'll carry you while we wait for Santana's mum."

Ashley pursed her lip considering this suggestion, and then nodded.

"Okay Bri-"before she could finish, Brittany had opened her arms and allowed her to free fall to the ground. Ashley was quick though, and managed to hook one am around Brittany's neck, causing her jerk down quickly and fall on top of Ashley, bringing a hand out to keep her from landing in full force and actually hurting her.

Quinn and Brittany's dad burst out laughing, while her mum clicked her tongue disapprovingly.

"Really Britt, we're in the middle of an airport. Can't you at least pretend to be an adult?"

Brittan stood up with an apologetic smile. "Sorry mum, I didn't plan on falling" she said, embracing her mother.

"That's what you get!" Ashley said, laughing as she hugged Quinn tightly around the waist. "Hey Quinn" She added.

"Hey kiddo." Quinn replied, hugging her back just as tightly.

"Dad I can't breathe" they heard Brittany croak.

"Sorry hun. You can't even believe how much I've missed you. No one dancing around the house with me anymore."

"Ashley says it's now uncool to hang out with her parents so she's always out at a friend's or the mall" her mum added with a sad look in Ashley's direction.

"Santana's influence no doubt." Quinn laughed.

Ashley nodded, walking away from their group, pretending to look around.

"I hung out with you guys all the time though and I was cool" Brittany said, keeping an eye on her sister.

Suddenly, Ashley broke into a run, heading straight to Brittany. Brittany, who had been expecting this, bent her knees and grounded herself just as Ashley jumped into the air.

"Santana says that you can always do whatever you want to because of your personality. But even you got bullied before you met Santana, you just didn't care." Ashley said once she had settled in Brittany's arms.

"So why don't you just not care?" Brittany asked.

Ashley seemed to channel Santana as she rolled her eyes and fixed her face into an exasperated expression, turning to look at Quinn for support. Quinn chuckled, but decided to save the girl none the less.

"It's not that easy Britt. Most of us really care about fitting in. Think about how hard it was for Santana to get over it so she could be with you."

Brittany sighed. She didn't get why people cared so much about fitting in and being popular. She especially didn't understand why it had been so hard for Santana to love Brittany, and more importantly, herself.

She was about to say this when Ashley spoke first and silenced her.

"You just don't get it Britt. I'm not like you, I'm like Santana. So just don't worry about it."

Brittany loved that her sister loved her girlfriend so much, but she knew that there were some things that Ashley didn't talk to her about, and she was sure that the list would only grow as she got older.

"Well I think you could learn a lot from Brittany Ash." Her dad chimed in.

"I know dad, you tell me almost every day"

"There are a few things Santana could learn from her too" Quinn added, knowing this would have more of an impact. Ashley pursed her lips in thought.

Just then, Brittany saw Santana's mother through the crowd.

"Jump down Ash"

"No Britt I'm sorry. Don't be mad at me. I'm like you a little bit too sometimes." Ashley rushed out, clinging tightly to Brittany's neck.

"I'm not mad Ash" Brittany laughed. "I see Santana's mum. I need to greet her properly."

"Why can't you do that while-"

"Ashley Margaret Pierce! Stop being difficult and get down NOW." Their mother said sharply, startling even Brittany. Ashly bowed her head and jumped down. Brittany looked at her mother, shocked.

"She's been harder to deal with lately" her mother said quietly. Brittany nodded awkwardly and then looked at Quinn, who also looked like she was trying to look as innocent as possible, lest she be shouted at too. Her father was looking very interested in a pole.

"Right. I'm just gonna…" She pointed in Mrs Lopez's direction.

"Of course dear." Her mother said with her usual cheery voice.

Brittany nodded again and then hurried off.

"Brittany darling." Mrs Lopez exclaimed when she saw her approaching. "Ha sido tan largo! How are you?" She hugged her tightly.

"Estoy bien gracias Mari" Brittany replied.

"OHH! Keeping up on your Spanish that's good to see!" Mrs Lopez beamed proudly.

"Of course" Brittany said smiling. "How else will I understand Santana when she's angry?"

Both women laughed, walking towards Quinn and Brittany's family.

"Maribel it's good to see you. How are you?" Brittany's mum asked, beckoning her for a hug.

"'I'm doing great thank you. Excited to see my daughter after what…three years now?" she asked, looking at Brittany.

"Not quite" Brittany answered, hoping Maribel wouldn't ask her why it's been so long.

"Speaking of, we should probably get going" Quinn interjected, seeing Brittany's discomfort.

"Right!" Brittany said, clapping in excitement. "We'll drop you guys at the restaurant, and then I'll go to Santana's studio to get her. Puck should be coming in an hour or so it'll take us half that to get to the restaurant, and the rest of it for me to get Santana and convince her to go out for lunch with me. Hopefully he'll be there in time."

"ONWARD" Brittany's dad yelled, causing a few people to look at them, and resulting in a slap to the back of his head from his wife.

"Honestly. Et tu Pierce!"

"Sorry Susan, I'm excited" He said, looking ashamed.

"Let's just go" she said.

Brittany and her dad exchanged cheeky looks and nodded. Brittany then dashed forward and picked up a still sulking Ashley while her dad yelled,

"Follow that trail!"

"What trail?!" Brittany yelled back, ignoring the staring strangers and the reproachful look from her mother.

There was some silence before Ashley finally yelled

"The trail that we blaze!"

****************************************************************************

"She should be out soon Mrs Pierce" the receptionist at the studio told Brittany. She had been sitting in the lobby for close to 20 minutes.

"I told you to call me Brittany" she said with a smile. She couldn't remember what this woman was called, and she had asked for it so many times that she was sure the woman would get offended, so instead she decided not to mention it. She'd ask Santana. "And thank you, but I'm not in a rush."

"Oh, you look a bit impatient."

Brittany decided not to reply to this, choosing instead to text Quinn to see if Puck had arrived.

"He just walked in. come quick…Maribel and Ashley don't seem happy."

Brittany laughed at her sister's protectiveness.

"You laugh just like my girlfriend" came Santana's voice. Brittany's head snapped up as she broke into a huge smile. "Hey baby"

"Hey S. How was your meeting?" She kissed her hello, and Santana smiled into the kiss.

"It was good. Everything is set. I got a lot of compliments on my outfit too" she added, winking at Brittany.

"You do look very sexy baby" Brittany husked into Santana's ear, before nipping it playfully.

Santana cleared her throat and blushed. "Are you starting something BSP?"

Brittany pulled back from the kiss she had just placed on Santana's neck. "Unfortunately not gorgeous. I wanna take you to lunch."

Santana frowned, disappointed. "We can eat after."

"I'm hungry now. Plus we're already out. If we go home I won't feel like leaving again."

Santana eyed her suspiciously. "Brittany you always feel like leaving the house."

"Not today. I've already been out with Quinn." Brittany replied, trying to look as innocent as possible, hoping that this was one of the times that Santana couldn't read her mind.

Santana was silent a while, surveying Brittany and then sighed in acceptance.

"Okay. Where are you feeling?"

Brittany paused, pretending to think. "French food."

"Ouu fancy" Santana chuckled. "I think I know a little French place over on-"

"No I looked at a few online on the way here. I wanna go to La Forêt."

"What? Britt" Santana laughed. "That's really fancy. We'll need a reservation I think."

"Let's just go see. If they say it's reservation only we can go somewhere else."

"No. I don't feel like driving halfway across town just to come all the way back."

"Pleassseee baby. Please!" Brittany put on her best BSP pout.

"Don't look at me like that woman!" Santana closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration, but then she remembered this morning, and all the cute things Brittany had done.

"Alright fine! But you owe me some sweet lady loving after this" she said, raising a finger at her.

"Yes!" Brittany squealed, trying to conceal the massive sigh of relief she had let out. For a moment she really thought Santana would refuse. She took out her phone and texted Quinn, "letting Quinn know we're going for lunch." She answered Santana's questioning look.

"Where is Quinn?" Santana asked, as they reached her car.

Brittany thought about what the best answer would be.

"I think she said she was going to get lunch too. I left her to come get you though."

"At home?"

"No" was all Brittany replied. She didn't want to outright lie about where Quinn was in case Santana asked more questions and she got tripped up.

"Hmm okay."

'Finally' Brittany thought to herself as they pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant.

"I don't have a good feeling about this B" Santana said nervously. She always hated making a fool of herself. This place was fancy, and she could just see the host laughing at their pathetic attempt at just walking in.

"It'll be fine Santana. Don't worry about it." Brittany sounded so sure that it calmed some of Santana's nerves. 'We just have to look confident' Santana told herself.

"Good afternoon. How are we doing today?" the cheery host greeted them.

"Good thanks" Brittany replied in a similarly cheerful manner and brandishing a bright smile.

'Wow, she's really selling it' Santana thought.

"Pierce party" Brittany said.

Santana was so busy trying to look like she belonged there that it took a while for her brain to process what Brittany had said.

"Wait what? What do you mean 'party'" she asked, frowning.

"Certainly. Right this way." The waiter said, walking out from behind the desk and deeper into the restaurant.

"Britt what the hell just happened?" Santana asked, thoroughly confused.

"Maybe I called ahead." Brittany said smirking.

"Brittany S. Pierce" Santana said, stopping in her tracks. "Tell me what's happening."

Brittany sighed. She should have known Santana would be difficult.

"Ok fine, so I planned a lunch for us to celebrate your being signed and getting approved." She knew she had to give Santana something otherwise she'd keep being difficult, but she purposefully neglected to include that there were others invited to said lunch.

"Oh okay. Why didn't you just tell me that silly" Santana said, sighing and continuing towards their waiter, who had stopped a few paces ahead of them.

Brittany shook her head and laughed lightly. "I was trying to surprise you Santana."

"Can't surprise me Britt. I know…" but what she knew she didn't say. Santana stopped dead in her tracks again as her mother, Brittany's parents, Ashley, Quinn and Puck all stood up clapping and cheering. She stood shocked for a moment, and then turned to Brittany, who was beaming beside her.

"Surprise baby" Brittany said laughing.

Santana couldn't believe it. Brittany, who was horrible at keeping secrets, especially from her, had managed to fly in their family and Puck just to surprise her. She shook her head as she felt tears prickle in her eyes and then leaned forward so she was an inch from Brittany's face. She gazed into the blue that she loved so much and cupped Brittany's rapidly reddening cheeks.

"I love you so much Brittany. I just…I can't believe you…You're….Fuck." as words failed her, Brittany closed the distance between them and kissed her deeply.

"I know baby, I know. I love you." She gave her another quick kiss and then cocked her head in the direction of their family, Puck still clapping loudly. "We should..."

Santana let go of Brittany's face and stepped back, closing her eyes momentarily to collect herself.

"Yeah okay. Let's…"

Brittany took her hand and led her to the table with their family.

"Lezpez what took you so damn long?" Puck teased as he pulled her into a bear hug.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that Noah?!" Santana growled in irritation, though Brittany could see she was fighting a smile.

"The same amount of times I've told you not to call me Noah"

"How did they manage to drag your sorry ass out here?"

"I almost didn't come, but then I decided that you'd gone long enough without your lesbro. So here I am, offering my services for four glorious days."

"Really?" Brittany asked, giving Puck a quick hug and trying to hide her disappointment at this news.

"Yeah. I haven't seen my favourite lesbians in forever, so…" He trailed off uncertainly and looked at Santana. "That's okay right?"

Santana looked at Brittany, and then back at Puck. "It might be better if you just go back after this Noah" she said hesitantly, not wanting to upset Brittany again.

Brittany took a deep breath. "No Puck you should stay."

"What?" Santana asked her with wide eyes. "Are you sure Britt?"

"Santana I'm sure. You guys haven't seen each other in a while."

"YES" Puck exclaimed. "It's gonna be an awesome lesbros time. We're heading for the nearest strip club ASA possible."

Santana rounded on him and looked at him seriously. "OK no. If you're gonna stay, I'm setting rules."

Puck deflated. "Rules?" He whined.

"First, no strip clubs. Second, no interrupting my Britt time. Third, no excluding Britt from anything. You need to get into her good graces or it's very possible that this friendship will end."

Puck sobered up at this and looked at Brittany, who was trying not to smile too widely. Then he turned back to Santana who was looking at him expectantly, with one raised eyebrow. The entire table was quiet.

"Fine yeah. Fine, I'll follow your rules"

"Great!" Santana's mum said loudly, drawing everyone's attention to her. "Now that is settled, can I say hi to my child?"

Everyone laughed.

"Ven aquí cariño! No hagas esperar a tu madre."

Santana moved quickly around the table to her mother. "Lo siento, mami" She said, as she hugged her tightly, burying her face in her neck for just a second. "Me alegra que estes aqui. Te he extrañado mucho."

Maribel smiled, and kissed the top of Santana's head, knowing that confessing to missing her mother was not something Santana did lightly.

"Brittany did you hear that?" Maribel called, making Santana chuckle and pull back.

"I'm not sure. Santana could you say it again?"

"I hate you both! And people wonder why I never show affection." Santana said, rolling her eyes. She was grateful for their teasing though, because she was close to tears.

"What? What did she say?" Quinn asked.

"You'll never know preggers"

"Santana!" "Dios mio Santana tan grosero!" Both Brittany and Maribel chastised. As Quinn laughed, Santana hurried away from them both before she could be shouted at further and sought protection with the Pierces.

"I thought it was funny Santana" Ashley said, giving her a big hug.

"That's why you're mi gemela Ash. These guys just don't get us." Ashley beamed at the old nickname.

"Hey poppa!" she sighed contentedly as Pierce pulled her into a warm hug. When she had come into the Pierces lives, she had embraced Ashley as her little sister, Mrs Pierce as a cool aunt, and Britt was…well even in the beginning Brittany was more than just her best friend. But Mr Pierce had been the father figure that she never had. Her dad was around, but he wasn't a father figure. Mr Pierce always asked how she was doing and cared, he'd find time to spend with just her and made sure to establish trust between them. Even now, when Santana didn't even talk to her own mother that often, she called Pierce every week.

"Hey kiddo. I've missed you so much." Santana nodded into his chest.

"Yeah me too"

"HA!" Maribel exclaimed, beaming once again at the fact that she had gotten a real 'I missed you' from Santana, and not the 'me too' that she always gave.

"Ma por favour! no empieces"

Brittany laughed loudly, shaking her head.

"Come here dear. Pierce it's my turn." Susan said, slapping her husband's arm, which was still holding Santana tightly.

Santana extricated herself from Pierce's embrace and headed to Susan.

"How are you Santana?" The older woman asked, holding Santana at arms-length and stroking Santana's hair.

"Good thanks ASP. I'm so glad you came."

"Of course we came!" Susan scoffed, smiling widely at the old nickname that Santana had given her. She and Brittany had been drunk when they got home on that day, and in trying to convince Susan they were sober, they had sat for a few minutes with her. Five minutes in, Santana realised that Susan's initials were the same as Brittany's besides the B. So she had said that Susan came first, so she was 'A' SP, and Brittany was second so she was 'B' SP. She wondered if the girls had realised that she knew they were drunk.

Just then, a waiter came by to give out menus and everyone took their seats. Santana sat between her mum and Ashley, while Brittany sat opposite her between her dad and Quinn. Puck and Susan were at the heads of the table.

"So mija, cuéntanos como pasó todo" Maribel asked.

Santana sighed. Her mother always did this. She spoke in near constant Spanish around the Pierces, as if to assert some kind of dominance. It was like she was constantly trying to remind them that she was Santana's mother. Santana had been understanding for the first few times she did it, because she assumed her mother was struggling to come to terms with the fact that Santana had found a place in another family while Maribel and her husband ignored her. But now, nearly five years in, Santana had had enough.

"Ma, ¿Por qué no puedes simplemente hablar inglés? sabes que no te entienden. Es grosero."

"Brittany entiende" She said, indicating to Brittany with her hand. "¿No puedes"

Brittany nodded awkwardly. Everyone at the table was looking at both Latina's confused.

"Ese no es el punto. No quiero tener que seguir traduciendo para ti" Santana said quickly. Trying not to get annoyed.

"I can do it Santana" Brittany offered, not wanting Santana and her mum to start fighting.

Santana smiled at her but shook her head.

"Ahaa! Problema resuelto Santana."

"Thank you Britt but no. She has to stop this." Santana said, turning to her mother when saying 'this'.

"Santana dear is there something wrong?" Susan asked. She could see the hostility between her and her mother growing rapidly, and though she was always respectful of Maribel, she tended to be very protective of Santana around the woman who had all but neglected her for years.

Santana didn't look away from her mother.

"Maribel" Brittany called, waiting for mother and daughter to break their stare down. When Maribel looked at her, Brittany continued. "Se supone que esto es una ocasión feliz"

Maribel softened, and looked back at Santana.

"Por favour" Santana said quietly.

Sighing, Maribel nodded. "Alright alright. Everyone relax. I was just asking Santana to tell us about how this all started."

Santana noted that Susan and Pierce visibly relaxed, as if they had been ready to fight. She loved that the Pierces cared so deeply for her. Ashley leaned in next to Santana.

"I want to speak Spanish like you Santana. I forgot most of what you taught me."

"Maybe we can Skype like once a week or something and I'll teach you again." She whispered back.

"Yes Santana please do tell us how you got discovered." Pierce stated jovially.

Brittany smiled sweetly at Santana and nodded for her to do it.

"Umm…Well I'm not really sure myself really. I'd been working for a couple of days, and since I'd only just started I didn't really have that much to do. So I decided to listen to the recordings of the artists already signed, so I could get used to how the studio works and stuff, and also so I could at least be acquainted with the artists themselves you know?"

Everyone nodded in understanding, and Brittany was still smiling so lovingly at her.

"So I'd been in the studio for a couple of hours, before I found this one tape that was really good, but there was something wrong with it. And I couldn't figure out what it was, cause the guy sounded really good, and the lyrics and everything were good. After a while, I decided to go into the recording studio myself and just play around with the track, changing and adding things here and there. I was so caught up in it that I didn't notice that the sound engineer had come in. Apparently he was there for a good like, 30 minutes, just watching me."

Santana stopped, shaking her head like she was finding it hard to believe her own story. Brittany decided to pick up the story from there.

"So after Santana left, he went in and played back what she had done-"

"It's so crazy cause I had meant to delete it, but I guess I forgot."

"And he really liked it. So he called up the guys in suits and told them they're new hire just fixed the song they've been working on forever. The next day… just before lunch I think…was it lunch babe?"

"Yeah I was about to come home for lunch"

"Yeah so just before lunch, they all come into Santana's office and are like…'we know you were messing around with one of the artist's tracks yesterday'. And Santana is really scared now cause she thinks she's in trouble for something. So she's all like…'Sorry I was just trying to get caught up on everything so I'm better equipped-"

"B they don't really need to know everything I said." Santana said laughing, loving the excitement Brittany was putting into the story.

"Oh okay…well…yeah so she's freaking out, and they go…'you totally fixed the track, you have a really good ear and from what we heard from your recording, you have a lot of talent too.' So Santana is freaking out now for a different reason…she's all blushing and shaking her head…you know how she gets with compliments."

"B how do you know that? You weren't there. What if I was like…'yeah boys, I know…that's why you hired me'?" Santana interjected.

Everyone laughed at this, making Santana frown.

"Why are you guys laughing, Santana never shows weakness. It's totally possible that she put those men in suits in their places. She does it all the time" Ashley said defensively, just as confused as Santana.

"Thank you Ash. I told you these people don't get us." Santana said, beginning to feel a bit self-conscious.

"Mija, you act tough all the time, but taking a genuine compliment, especially about your singing isn't your strong suit." Maribel said, trying to ease Santana's discomfort.

"Yeah baby. And I don't know why, you have a beautiful voice, you're super sexy when you dance and you're gorgeous." Brittany said, cheekily trying to prove a point. As she expected, Santana leaned back in her seat and let her hair fall over her face, trying to cover her blush.

"Thanks B" She said quietly.

Quinn began laughing, but was silenced by a quick look from Brittany, making it clear that the mocking was over. She coughed to cover up her laugh.

"Umm…so they told you you're talented then?" Puck said, trying to relieve the tension.

"Britt?" Santana deferred, much preferring how she was telling the story.

"Right! So Santana sits blushing, and then one of her bosses is like, 'would you please come in and officially join the track? Your voice adds a lot to the song and we can only imagine what you'd do for the artist's whole album.' At first Santana is like...'I'm not sure…I don't know about that...' so they tell her 'it's all cool…take the day to think about it. Let us know before you clock out.'"

"Wait a minute. What do you mean you weren't sure? What happened to, 'I'm 1000% sure I'm actually going to be famous'?" Quinn asked in a bad Santana's impersonation.

Puck, Brittany and Santana laughed while everyone else looked confused.

"Wha-"Susan started to ask, but was quickly cut off by Brittany.

"A story for another time ma"

"I don't know. It was scary you know. I was finally being given a clear way to get what I've been dreaming of forever, and I couldn't stop thinking, 'what if I start, and give up the job I have now, which is so great, and then I fail? I wouldn't be able to get a job like this after a failed music career you know?"

"Ah! Nena. No puedes dejar el miedo-"

"Mami!" Santana cut off her mother.

"Perdoneme. Santana you can't let fear control you like that. 'What ifs' will always turn into regrets."

"That's what Britt told me ma." Santana said, smiling at Brittany, indicating for her to continue the story.

"Yeah. When Santana came home for lunch she told me what happened and what she said. And I was like, "Santana after everything we've been through-"

"You should know that the future is so unpredictable that being afraid of it does nothing but keep you from living." Santana finished."

"This is your dream, and you're really going to regret not taking this chance if you decide you'd rather sit behind a desk and help other people achieve what you've always wanted."

"Damn that's harsh Pierce" Puck said, nodding his approval. "That's how Lopez needs it sometimes."

"What did you have to say to that Santana?" Pierce asked.

"That I don't sit behind a desk all the time." Santana replied, chuckling.

Everyone laughed again, while Brittany and Santana exchanged a meaningful look, agreeing to skip over the part where Santana cried, overwhelmed by the prospects of what she was being offered.

"So you walked back into your office and told them you were in?" Susan asked.

"Yeah basically." Santana said. "I just told them that I'd also like to keep my initial job too, as much as I can, because I actually do really enjoy it. You guys know how I love telling people they suck."

"Definitely"

"All too well"

"Tell me about it"

"Nooo...really?" Came Puck, Quinn, Maribel and Ashley's replies.

Brittany chuckled and Santana shrugged.

"I am who I am people. You guys love me!"

"I remember the last time you tried that line, it didn't go down so well." Puck said laughing.

"Annyywwaaaay" Santana said loudly, not wanting to relive that particular glee moment.

"Yes, please do continue" Pierce said, tired of all the interruptions.

"They agreed to let me keep sourcing talent, and put into my contract that I will have the same opportunity for promotions, separate from my musical career."

"Wait what does that mean?" Ashley asked.

"It means that if I do well at talent sourcing, then I can be promoted to the artist and repertoire representative department which is the next step up, and if I do well there, I can keep going up until finally up to record producer, which is where I'm hoping to be eventually. I wanted to make sure that whatever happens with this singing thing, I can still reach this other goal."

Brittany nodded along approvingly.

"That's clever" Quinn said.

"Even though you're going to become an international sensation" Brittany added with a wink at Santana.

"So what happens now?" Maribel asked.

"Well, on Tuesday, I start performing covers and stuff for a while, until people know who I am, and then I start playing my own music when I have people actually showing up to see me."

"Woow" Ashley remarked, her admiration for Santana only growing.

"Yeah. I'm really lucky." Santana said, shaking her head again.

"You are lucky, but you're also mega talented" Puck said.

"And hard-working" Pierce added. "It wasn't lucky that you were in the studio mixing tracks and making them better. It was because you're a hard worker."

"A bit of a perfectionist" Brittany added, giggling

"It was lucky that the sound engineer heard me, and that I forgot to delete it after." Santana said.

"Maybe," Maribel said thoughtfully, "Maybe it's just how God intended it to be. With your work ethic and skill, it was really only a matter of time before you got noticed. Maybe it was only lucky that it happened so soon." She finished, reaching out to grab Santana's hand, which was fiddling with her phone on the table.

"Ok, ok, stop guys. This is super weird." Santana laughed nervously.

"Baby, everyone is here because something awesome is happening to you. We're all so proud of you for getting this far. It wasn't luck, it was all you Santana, and we're all going to keep telling you that until you believe it." Brittany told her seriously, looking deep into her eyes and willing her to believe every word she was saying.

"She'll probably still be denying it as she wins a Grammy." Quinn joked.

"Then I'll whisper it in her ear as they call her name" Brittany said, not breaking eye contact with Santana.

"Deal" Santana said, staring back into her favourite ocean blue, starting to believe for the first time, that maybe, just maybe, she might actually make it.