A/N: It's here, guys! I'm so excited!!!! I hope you like it!

Also, the song isn't an original, I know, but for the sake of the story, let's just pretend. The actual song is called Sit still, look pretty by Daya. If you haven't heard it, go give it a listen, it's great!

Emily had heard it from Brittany, who had heard it from Sugar, who had heard from Mercedes, who had heard from Tina who had heard it from Rachel Berry herself and now, the girl couldn't actually contain her excitement. Actually, it took her awhile to believe in any of it, but as soon as Santana met her in her locker that day saying it was true, she decided she needed to see it with her own eyes. So, there they were, the two of them, running down the hallways with Emily almost dragging her friend along toward the choir room.

"This is pathetic." Santana laughed, with a shake of her head. "You're pathetic."

"Shut up." Emily laughed back at her, not even sparing her a glance as she kept on running. "You were almost as excited as I was."

"Not nearly." Santana rolled her eyes. "But I did hear he got hotter over summer, so I am curious to see if his lips-to-face ratio got any better since the last time I saw him."

"Santana..." Emily laughed, almost squealing in excitement when she finally spotted the choir room at the end of the corridor.

Before she could run away, though, Santana pulled her back as Emily frowned.

"What are you doing?" She asked, as the older girl simply shrugged.

"I call it dibs."

"Dibs on what?"

"Welcoming him first."

"Why?"

"I have a whole speech prepared. Come on, Em, I know you really want to jump his bones, but let me have a moment first?"

Shaking her head with a laugh, Emily shrugged.

"Fine." She said, pointing at the door of the choir room with a smile. "Go on, then."

And so Santana went, walking inside the room with a smile as Sam and the rest of the New Directions turned to her.

"I just heard the news that Trouty Mouth is back in town." She said, as everyone worriedly looked at the pair. Santana pulled out a small notebook from her skirt and Emily stood by the door, watching the interaction as she leaned against the door frame. "I've been keeping a notebook, just in case this day ever came."

Santana cleared her throat then and opened her notebook. Emily watched as Sam looked at Santana with a soft smile, already half-expecting something like this. Santana was right, though, he had gotten hotter over summer and Emily wasn't sure if it was the new haircut or the fact that he looked less like a boy this year and more like a man, but she wasn't about to complain in any case.

"Welcome back, Lisa Rinna." Santana started reading as Sam shook his head at the insult. Emily bit back a smile then, looking around as she watched everyone's stunned expressions at the interaction. "I've missed you so much since your family packed their bags, loaded them in your mouth, and skipped town. I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to enjoy a crisp pickle, but couldn't find anyone to suck the lid off the jar. I assume you've been working as a baby-polisher, where young mothers place their infants' heads in your mouth to get back that newborn shine. So glad you're back. I haven't seen a smile that big since a Claymation Abominable Snowman got his teeth pulled by that little gay elf dentist. Love, Santana."

There was a moment of silence as Santana smirked and closed her notebook and Sam placed his guitar on his back, stepping forward to pull the girl in a hug.

"I missed you, too, Santana." He smiled, pulling Santana off the ground for a second as she giggled.

"Well, that's beautiful." Emily spoke up as soon as the two of them pulled apart. Everyone turned to look at her then, and Sam smiled brightly when he saw her standing there. "But is it my turn now?"

Sam said nothing, simply opening his arms for her as she squealed, running up to him and pulling him into a hug. Just as he had done to Santana, he pulled her off her feet, but unlike her friend, she wrapped her arms around his neck and bent her knees so her feet were pointing up. Sam squeezed her in his arms, feeling his whole body buzz in excitement as he heard — and felt, really — Emily laughing against his neck.

"God, I've missed you." She whispered as he put her back down on the floor.

"I've missed you too." He answered quickly causing Emily to smile. "After glee, can we talk?"

Emily looked around them, noticing how everyone — even Rory, the new guy — watched the two of them with soft eyes and silly smiles. Suddenly embarrassed once she realized all eyes were on her, she blushed a bit, taking a small step away from Sam, but nodding at his request anyway.

"After glee." She agreed, before sending him a small smile before turning around and grabbing Santana by the arm.

"Wait, not even a kiss?" The Cheerio asked, as Emily groaned, embarrassed as she pulled Santana toward the door.

"Just shut up and walk, Santana." She warned, sparing one last glance at Sam before the two of them walked out of the choir room. "Just shut up and walk."

***

Mercedes and Emily had stayed behind a little bit to talk to Shelby about their performance in the end of the week. After having all their questions answered, the two of them thanked the teacher before starting on a very excited conversation.

"Oh, I'm so excited!" Emily gushed as the two of them gathered their stuff, getting ready to leave. "I'm so glad you liked the song!"

"How could we not? It's a tune." Mercedes laughed, fixing her bag in her shoulders before the two girls started to leave the room. "We have this competition in the bag, honestly. There's no way we... Oh, you know what, I'll catch you later."

Before Emily could even comprehend what was happening, Mercedes slipped away through the door and rushed down the hallways, looking over her shoulder with a smirk when she saw Sam pushing himself off the lockers he had been leaning against and walking toward Emily as the girl smiled at him.

"Hey." He smiled back at her as he approached.

"Hey."

"What do you have now?" He asked.

"Geography."

"Can I walk you there?"

Emily stopped for a second, her eyes looking up at Sam as she tried to make her mind understand that he was actually there, in front of her there, offering to walk her to class. She could almost cry. She wasn't actually sure she didn't actually. But she did manage to nod her head to answer his question and she did feel her heart skip a beat at the smile that formed in his face when she did.

"Come on, then." He said, extending a hand toward her as Emily sighed, smiling a bit but refusing to take his hand and opting for just walking beside him instead. Sam frowned a bit but didn't argue. "I've missed this, you know? Going to school and seeing you."

"I've missed this too." She nodded. More than you can possibly imagine. "And it's not that I don't want you here or anything but... Did your family move back? Because your dad is still in that construction job in Kentucky, right?"

"Yeah, he is." Sam said. "He's still back in Kentucky, with mom and the kids. I came by myself. Well, not really by myself because Rachel and Finn went there to talk to me and bring me back, but you know what I mean. I'm bunking with Kurt and Finn, actually."

"That's very nice of them." She smiled a bit. "And how long are you staying? I mean... I can definitely understand why the New Directions would feel threatened enough that they would feel the need to go all the way across the border to bring back their star player, but I mean..."

"Oh, so we're getting cocky, are we?" Sam laughed, nudging Emily's side as she giggled.

"I mean, you haven't seen us perform yet." She said, the smile on her face so big that Sam almost forgot how to breathe properly for a second. "We're so going to win."

"Honestly, with you, Santana, Mercedes and Brittany in the spotlight, I don't doubt it." He laughed.

"You know... I have to thank you." She said, as Sam frowned, turning to look at her, slightly confused. "I wouldn't have had the courage to go to the Trouble Tones if it wasn't for you. And the girls and Shelby have been making me very happy these last few weeks, you know? So as much as I miss the New Directions, especially now that you're back I..."

"Listen, you being happy is the only thing that matters to me, alright?" He interrupted her gently as the two of them stopped in front of the door of her next class. "I'm glad I could help."

"You did." She nodded, her eyes locked with his as they stood just a few inches apart. "More than you know."

And then it happened. Sam reached a hand up to place it on her cheek and he leaned down to capture her lips on a kiss — a kiss that he had been waiting on for far too long — but she pulled away, taking a step back as she looked down at the floor.

"Sam, listen..." She sighed, as the boy looked at her with a frown, trying to understand what he had done wrong, when he had read the signs so wrong. "I... I just have a lot on my mind right now and I... I mean, do you even know how long you'll stay? I can't... I mean, I wish I could, but I can't just get back together with you just to have you snatched away from me at the end of summer again."

"I want to stay here, Em. I want to graduate here. I want to graduate with you."

"I want that too." She smiled sadly up at him as he sighed. "It's all I want. But I need you to be sure."

"My mom and dad, they..."

"Tell you what?" She offered, as Sam stopped talking and nodded, letting her know he was listening. "You and I have Sectionals to worry about this week. Let's focus on that now and after that, we can talk properly again, alright?"

Sam didn't like this arrangement at all. He wanted to talk to her now, solve everything now, he wanted to be with her now. He wanted to kiss her again and hold her again and tell her he loved her again and he didn't want to wait another minute for it. But he knew Emily and he knew there was no way he was winning this argument. So, instead, he simply nodded, giving her a smile and a squeeze to her hand.

"After Sectionals, then." He agreed as she smiled.

"Good." She nodded. "After Sectionals."

***

"Hello, Will." Shelby greeted as she and the Trouble Tones walked into the choir room where the New Directions were reunited before Sectionals.

"Looking good, ladies!" Mr. Schue complimented as he walked forward to stand in front of Shelby.

"We just came to say, may the best glee club win." Shelby said, as Santana nodded.

"Yes, and just in case that glee club is us, I have convinced Miss Corcoran to consider a contingency plan."

"Yes, in the event of a New Directions loss, Trouble Tones has voted to allow any of you to join us at Regionals." Shelby said.

"You're welcome." Santana smiled.

"Excuse me?" Mr. Schue frowned.

"That's incredibly rude, Santana." Finn said.

"We're being nice." Santana argued. "It would be rude if I followed you around and every time you took a step, I played a note on a tuba."

"Thank you for the offer, Miss Corcoran, but right now, we're gonna concentrate on winning this thing." Mr. Schue said.

"And we will be winning, Shelby. We've got it in the bag." Quinn said with a sweet smile looking straight at her. Emily frowned, though. She knew that smile. It was the smile she usually had on whenever she was just playing nice but knew she had all the odds on her favor. "Puck here is going to come through for us. He's such a shining star, in every conceivable way. Don't you think?"

Emily glanced at Shelby then, her frown deepening as she noticed the freckles of apprehension in the back of her eyes. It only lasted a few seconds, though, because soon enough, Shelby was opening a smile again.

"Good luck, everybody." She said, finally, before turning to Mr. Schue again. "See you on the ice."

***

Sam frowned when he heard the few first notes of a song playing but the stage continued empty and dark. He understood what was happening, though, when Emily's voice sounded from somewhere behind him and he turned around. His smile was beaming when he saw her, standing by the doors of the auditorium as she sang walking down the corridor in between the chairs confidently.

Emily

Could dress up

To get love

But guess what?

I'm never gonna be that girl

Who's living in a Barbie world

Could wake up

And make up

And play dumb

Pretending that I need a boy

Who's gonna treat me like a toy

I know the other girlies wanna wear expensive things

Like diamond rings

But I don't wanna be the puppet that you're playing on a string

This queen don't need a king

Not once during her performance did Sam look away from her. Emily looked beautiful in her silver dress, her hair pinned back as she finally reached the stage where the rest of the girls were already waiting to back her up during the chorus of the song. And the song... Sam couldn't even begin to describe how proud of her he was.

"I don't know this song." Sam heard Blaine whisper to Finn who was sat beside him. He noticed how Finn shrugged, letting him know he also didn't know the song, so Sam leaned closer to both boys.

"It's hers." He said, and it wasn't as if he needed to say much else. They both knew who he was talking about since no one but Emily Marshall could pull such a wide smile from one Sam Evans. "It's an original song."

Trouble Tones

Oh, I don't know what you've been told

But this gal right here's gonna rule the world

Yeah, that is where I'm gonna be because I wanna be

No, I don't wanna sit still, look pretty

You get off on your nine to five

Dream of picket fences and trophy wives

But no, I'm never gonna be 'cause I don't wanna be

No, I don't wanna sit still look pretty

Emily

Sure, I'm a pretty girl

Up in a pretty world

But they say pretty hurts

And I don't wanna sit still

I'm a pretty girl

Up in a pretty world

But no, I won't sit still, look pretty

Trouble Tones

Oh, I don't know what you've been told

But this gal right here's gonna rule the world

Yeah, that is where I'm gonna be because I wanna be

No, I don't wanna sit still, look pretty

You get off on your nine to five

Dream of picket fences and trophy wives

But no, I'm never gonna be 'cause I don't wanna be

No, I don't wanna sit still look pretty

Sit still, look pretty

Sit still, look pretty

Sit still, look pretty

Everyone then rose to their feet to clap and cheer for the girls and Emily smiled, rather proud of herself as she stood on the line facing the ground waiting for their next song to begin. And as soon as the first note hit, she felt all the rush and adrenaline she was feeling during her solo quick right back in as their second number began.

Santana

At first, I was afraid, I was petrified.

Kept thinkin' I could never live

Without you by my side,

But then I spent so many nights

Thinkin' how you did me wrong.

And I grew strong

And I learned how to get along.

Mercedes

And so you're back from outer space.

I just walked in to find you here

With that sad look upon your face.

I should've changed that stupid lock,

I should've made you leave your key,

If I had known, for just one second,

You'd be back to bother me.

Emily

Well, now go! Walk out the door!

Just turn around now,

'Cause you're not welcome anymore!

Weren't you the one

Who tried to hurt me with goodbye?

Did you think I'd crumble?

Did you think I'd lay down and die?

Trouble Tones (Santana)

I'm a survivor (What?)

I'm not gon give up (What?)

I'm not gon stop (What?)

I'm gon work harder (What?)

I'm a survivor (What?)

I'm gonna make it (What?)

I will survive (What?)

Keep on survivin' (What?)

Mercedes

Thought I couldn't breathe without you

I'm inhaling

You thought I couldn't see without you

Perfect vision

You thought I couldn't last without you

But I'm lastin'

You thought that I would die without you

But I'm livin'

Santana

Thought that I would fail without you

But I'm on top

Thought it would be over by now

But it won't stop

Thought that I would self destruct

But I'm still here

Even in my years to come

I'm still gon be here

Trouble Tones (Santana)

I'm a survivor (What?)

I'm not go on give up (What?)

I'm not go on stop (What?)

I'm go work harder (What?)

I'm a survivor (What?)

I'm gonna make it (What?)

I will survive (What?)

Keep on survivin' (What?)

Mercedes

Oh no, not I! I will survive!

Oh, as long as I know how to love

I know I'll stay alive!

I've got all my life to live.

I've got all my love to give.

And I'll survive. I will survive! Oohh..

Trouble Tones (Santana)

I'm a survivor (What?)

I'm not go on give up (What?)

I'm not go on stop (What?)

I'm go work harder (What?)

I'm a survivor (What?)

I'm gonna make it (What?)

I will survive (What?)

Keep on survivin' (What?)

And as the girls laid on the ground after their performance, basking on the sounds of clapping and cheers for them, Emily exchanged a glance with Brittany and just before the lights went out, they smiled at each other.

The Trouble Tones had that one in the bag.

***

After the New Directions performed, it was finally time for the results.

The Trouble Tones stood together on the stage, Brittany holding Emily's hand as they all waited for the results to be announced. As soon as the clown that would be announcing the results walked up to the stage Emily could almost taste her nerves.

"As an award-winning clown, I'd like to say that it's nice, for once, to be working with kids that are just sick with talent." The man joked. Not a soul laughed, however and Emily almost felt bad for the guy. But as soon as he opened the third place envelope, she all but forgot about it. "Third place... The Unitards!"

Emily squeezed Brittany's hand as everyone cheered for The Unitards and they went to get their trophy. Brittany smiled at her