oneshot drabble written after episode 100, before 101 which this little scene will probably not fit within. (but one can always hope). glee's not mine.

Santana sits in the back of the choir room, failing to even pretend to be listening to what Mr. Schue was talking about. Her mind is focused solely on one thing, or rather one person.

Brittany.

Brittany who had kissed her yesterday.

Brittany who had said she'd be there when she was ready.

Santana had gone home last night to a long, emotional phone conversation with Dani. When it's all said and done Santana's not sure if she should be relieved or reassured at the fact that breaking up with Dani didn't make Santana feel like she was putting her heart in a blender the way breaking up with Brittany had. The more she thinks about it the more it just terrifies her with thoughts of all the ways this choice could potentially break her into irredeemably tiny pieces.

But fear or not this was never really a choice, was it?

Brittany was always inevitable.

Brittany was always there, waiting for her to be ready.

"Does anyone else have a performance or song they'd like to-"

Santana snaps out of her introspection and stands abruptly, interrupting Mr. Schue.

"I've got a song I want to sing."

"Uh, okay. Great." Will fumbles briefly, "Santana, you have the floor." He concedes with a wave, backing off to the side as Santana strides determinedly to the front of the room.

After a brief stop to whisper to the pianist, Santana positions herself front and center then hesitates, a flicker of uncertainty shining through to be stomped down under her protective bitch face.

"Berry, switch seats with Brittany." She demands.

"Excuse me?" Rachel sputters, indignant and gearing up for a patented diva tirade - only to be cut off.

"For fuck's sake, Berry, for once in our agonizing acquaintance just…" Santana huffs out before her posture droops, "please."

Slightly stunned and definitely speechless at the actual pleading in the tone, Rachel gets up and moves to a vacant chair and Will fails to reprimand Santana for her profanity. In a slightly unnerving silence and amidst many questioning glances and raised eyebrows, Brittany makes her way to The Rachel Chair, front and center.

That accomplished, the full force of the collective confusion and curiosity turns towards Santana.

"This isn't a reinvention of a song performed with glee club," Will looks like he might say something but Santana steamrolls on, "but it was an assignment I performed here, in this room, that I think bears repeating."

Here Santana shuts her eyes and takes a deep breath, only to open them with a new resolve, fixed intently on Brittany who gazes back with guarded hope.

"Britt, junior year I sang you a song and you asked me why I couldn't sing it in front of Glee Club…" Santana's gaze drops to the floor, to return more open and vulnerable "I told you I wasn't ready." Santana stands up straight and meets Brittany's teary, hopeful smile with a solemn surety.

"I'm ready now."

With one more deep breath and a nod in the direction of the piano, the opening strings of Songbird drift through the choir room…