Sitting at her desk marking the third grade essays for her class, Danielle "Dani" Heart, smiles' reading her best student's Elena's. Elena Lopez-Hudson. Dani's daughter Miley is in her class and is her second best student. Elena's marks are higher than Miley's but not by much.

Dani's son, Gale is in sixth grade and helps Miley with her homework and explains it when Dani can't and is busy, which is most of the time. When Gale needs help, Dani does her best to help, but he's a very bright and smart student so he doesn't really need help.

"I'm sorry I'm late." Looking up, Dani shakes her head at Elena.

"It's okay, Elena. Have a seat." Dani reassures.

"My mom wanted me to give you this." Pulling out the note, Elena walks over and passes it to Dani.

"Thank you, Elena, take your seat please." Nodding, Elena takes her seat and copies what is on the board, the assignment.

Reading the note, Dani sighs. Elena will be taking two weeks off again and needs Dani to email her, Elena's homework. Wishing she knew why Elena always disappears for a few days at a time to a few weeks, it causes Elena to be behind in the work, but is still her best student.

At lunch, Dani heads to the teacher's lounge to have her lunch. Dani is the youngest teacher in the whole school, and many of them says Dani is the best and not caving or signalling out her best or worst students. She treats them equally and like they are older than they are. When one causes trouble, she makes them write a page of what they did wrong at their recess.

Dani has only met Elena's father, Finn Hudson but never Elena's mother. She guesses she's not really in the picture, but as long as Elena is okay, she doesn't really care about meeting her if at all.

"Uhm, is Ms. Heart here?" Dani hears a tiny voice. Turning to the door, Dani spots Miley. Getting up, Dani packs her lunch knowing something is wrong.

Stepping out and closing the door, Miley starts to cry.

"Shh, what's wrong?" Dani asks.

"People were being mean." It is recess which is lunch hour for some teachers.

"Did you tell the teacher outside?"

"He said to grow up." Getting angry, Dani stops off at the classroom and heads outside with Miley.

Walking over to the teacher on duty, he and Dani have an argument and Dani heads back inside. When he tries to stop Miley from following Dani, Dani shoots him a glare making him back away.

Inside, Miley runs to keep up with her mother. Arriving to the sixth grade classroom, Gale's class, Dani spots only Gale in the classroom working. Seeing no teacher or students, Dani steps in with Miley.

"Mom, Miley, what are you doing here?" Gale asks as Miley rushes over to him. Giving him a hug, Miley cries into his shirt.

"Miley was being bullied." Dani informs him, "When you are out at recess, could you keep an eye on her?"

"Of course. Can I beat them up if they are guys?"

"You know I'm against fighting, but if they hit you first, give them a chance to stop. If they don't stop after the third one, fight back." Seeing his smile, Gale nods.

"I promise, mom." Gale promises.

"Well, I have to go out since it's my turn. Keep an eye on Miles."

"Okay. She can stay with me until class."

"Thank you, honey."

"No problem." Leaving the room after giving her kids each a hug, Dani walks outside and begins to patrol the yard. Walking by little Elena, Dani finds her crying into her knees.

"Elena, what's wrong?" Dani asks kneeling down next to her. Lifting her head, Dani spots a forming bruise.

"Don't leave me. They will come back." Elena whimpers.

"Would you like to join my son and daughter inside?" Watching Elena shake her head, Dani smiles reassuring, "You can join me for the rest of recess."

"Really?"

"Positive." Getting up together, Dani starts to walk with Elena next to her, "So Elena, do you have any siblings?"

"A little half-brother and an older foster sister." Elena informs Dani softly.

"How old are they?"

"Two and sixteen. He looks like daddy and Aunty Rachel. They are married."

"What about your mom?"

"She hasn't found anyone she would like to marry yet. She has a girlfriend though."

"That's good."

"May I bring mommy for Show and Tell? When we show our favourite person in the world?" Elena asks.

"Of course you may."

"Yay!" Noticing Elena is getting excited and happy, Dani smiles.

"If you like, Elena, you could bring your mom to meet me on Wednesday."

"Really? Daddy normally comes."

"Well, how about both of them?"

"And Aunty Rachel?"

"If she would like to." Seeing Elena smile big, Dani smiles back.

"Where is Miley's daddy?"

"He's at work." Dani answers. Miley's and Gale's father is in the picture, but they never married and are just friends. He used to be Dani's boyfriend until she ended it with him when she realized she didn't like him or any guys that way. Her best friend is actually a teacher as well, but at the high school in the next district and part of New York. Manhattan to be exact. His name is Elliott Gilbert.

He and Dani went to school together and their parents are best friends. Elliott's mom is actually her god-mother. She and Elliott grew up together since birth. He is three years older than she is.

"How old are you, Ms. Heart? You look mommy's age."

"How old is your mom?"

"Twenty-four."

"She's young." Dani smiles, "I'm twenty-three."

"Who is your oldest? Miley?"

"Actually, Miley has an older brother. His name is Gale."

"How old is he?"

"Eleven. Miley is turning eight."

"Wow. Miley is still seven?"

"Until next week."

"She's younger than me by seven months."

"Yes she is." Dani nods still smiling. Hearing the bell ring, the students make their way inside. Once everyone is inside, Dani makes sure everyone is in their classrooms before heading to her classroom with Elena by her side. Stepping into her classroom, Dani waves at Miley who is now smiling.

After school is over, Dani marks everyone's art projects that worked on over the last week. Elena is still in her seat waiting for one of her parents to pick her up. Hearing a knock on the door, Dani turns to see Elena's father.

"Hello, Ms. Heart." Finn smiles.

"Hello, Mr. Hudson." Dani nods.

"Uhm, Elena's mother is picking her up Friday. She is taking Elena with her while she works."

"That's not a problem. I'll hopefully have Elena's assignments ready by then."

"Okay. Thank you for understanding."

"May I ask a personal question, Mr. Hudson? About Elena's mother?"

"Sure. I may or may not answer, but go ahead."

"Why is it I have never met her? It's October."

"Oh, she's always away. She travels a lot for her job." Finn answers, "I'm letting her mother live her dream as I live mine."

"That's good. Elena was wondering something earlier." Dani looks to Elena, "Would you like to ask, Elena?"

"Daddy, may mommy and Aunty Rachel come to meet Ms. Heart, Wednesday with you?"

"Sure. I'll ask mom tonight."

After Elena and Finn leaves, Dani sighs.

"What's wrong, mommy?" Miley asks as Gale peeks into the room before walking in.

"Nothing, honey. Just tired." Dani answers, "Ready to go home, kids?"

"Will dad call tonight?" Gale wonders, "It's dad's call night isn't it?"

"It is and he will call around seven." Watching Gale smile, Miley frowns. She has never met Elliott or spoken to him. She chooses not to. Gale was three when Elliott went off to college but he got the chance to get to know him. Dani is pretty much a single mother and Elliott just pays for their apartment and sends them child support. He never visits and only calls once a week to speak with Gale. He tries to speak to Miley, but she would walk away or say no.

Miley is a mommy's girl and Gale is a mix of a daddy's boy and a mommy's boy. Mostly mommy's boy. Gale barely remembers Elliott, but he knows his voice off by heart. Dani constantly tries to get Elliott to visit, but he is always too busy. Elliott has pretty much walked out of the kid's lives and Dani's. Just a small part of him is in their lives.

How Gale was born was a drunken experience and Dani was twelve. Elliott and Dani were at a high school party together and Elliott got Dani so drunk that she could barely remember. It wasn't on purpose, it was an accident and Elliott was fifteen and experimenting with alcohol.

Three years later, the same thing happened but they were just sober enough to remember to not forget. Two weeks later, Dani realized she is a lesbian and told him. They agreed for them to be better off as friends only. They gave Gale the choice to pick who he wants to live with and he picked Dani. Elliott was barely around anyways and Gale knew he wanted them both but wanted Dani.

Arriving home, Dani unlocks the apartment door and Miley and Gale rushes in. Quickly starting homework as Dani locks the door before deciding to take them out for dinner down the road; Miley and Gale immediately smile at this decision.

After they are finished homework and marking tests, projects and getting the work for Elena gathered, the three of them head out.

At the Spotlight Diner, they are seated and order their meals and drinks. Listening to a familiar song that she is hooked on, Miley turns and gasps.

"Mommy! Mommy, mommy, mommy!" Miley bounces in her seat turning to Dani.

"What is it, honey?" Dani asks looking down at her.

"It's my favourite singer besides you!" Miley squeals. Looking to where she points, Dani could barely see her face and admits she has a nice voice.

"She is good." Dani smiles stroking her daughter's hair.

"I agree too. Not like the singers that sing dirty." Gale agrees.

"Sing dirty? What do you mean?" Miley asks.

"Nothing." Gale shakes his head laughing, "You'll understand in a few years."

"Okay." Miley shrugs her shoulders not caring. Turning around in her seat, Miley is hypnotised with her favourite singer's music. When dinner arrives, Miley sadly turns away and begins to eat her dinner. Hearing screaming twenty minutes later, Miley gets distracted from her dinner like Gale and Dani do.

Widening her eyes, Miley watches teenagers surround the singer to get an autograph.

"Mommy?" Miley looks to her mother with begging eyes.

"Here." Pulling out a notebook she always has on her and a pen, Dani hands them to her, "Gale, can you go with her?"

"Okay." Getting up together, Gale takes Miley's hand and heads over. Knowing Gale and Miley will be okay Dani gets up to get the bill and to pay.

While with Miley and Gale, they patiently wait their turn. As the crowd disperses, the singer sighs in relief before turning around not seeing the seven and eleven-year-olds. Grabbing her purse, the singer turns back around and jumps, her hand flying to her chest.

"You two scared me." The singer gasps catching her breath and calming her fast beating heart, "What would you two like?" The singer sits down on the stage and signals the two children to come forward.

Unable to speak, Miley looks to Gale.

"My little sister is wondering if she may have your autograph. She's a huge fan." Gale answers.

"Sure, may I see your notebook?" Handing the notebook and pen over, the singer signs her name and writes her message down. Handing them back with a smile, Miley and Gale smiles back.

"Thank you." Miley whispers hugging the notebook to her chest.

"You are very welcome." The singer's smile grows.

"Well, we should go back to dinner. Thank you for your time." Gale speaks up.

"It's not a problem. I always have time for my fans."

Watching the children leave, the singer can't help but think they are adorable with their blonde hair and brown eyes.

Back with Dani, she is sitting and waiting patiently for her children to return. When they do, they finish eating before getting up and leaving.

The next day, Dani pairs her class into groups of two. Pairing Miley and Elena together, they quickly get to work on their art assignment. The assignment gets them to get to know each other. Dani paired them all with people they don't know that well. Miley and Elena are both anti-social and know nothing about anyone around them.

When class ends, Elena and Miley only got the written part somewhat done, but because they are both slow writers and take their time, they are further behind than the rest of the class.

"Elena, would you like to ask your dad to see if you and Miley could work on the assignment tonight? Then you could stay for dinner and we can drive you home?" Dani asks at recess. Nodding, Elena has a smile on her face.

"Okay. Could you ask?" Elena questions.

"How about we ask together?"

"I like that better."

Letting the kids go outside, Elena and Miley hold hands and run around on the playground together with Gale chasing them. Gale was waiting outside the door for Miley.

After school, Finn knocks on the door smiling.

"Daddy!" Elena squeals running over to him, hugging him tightly, "Can I go to Miley's? We have homework to do."

"Elena, I thought we were going to ask together?" Dani teases.

"Oh," Elena frowns as Finn picks her up, "All well. Please daddy?"

"Remember, mommy is going to call tonight. Would I be able to give her mother your number to call?" Finn asks Dani.

"What time does her mother normally call at?" Dani wonders.

"Seven. If it's possible, could Elena sleepover at your place too? That way my wife and I could go out on a date?"

"Sure. She could borrow Miley's clothes for tomorrow. You may give Elena's mother my number to call." Getting Elena's mother's cell phone number and saving it as Elena's Mom, she also gets Finn's number and his wife Rachel's number.

"Thank you so much for this, Ms. Heart." Finn smiles setting Elena on her feet.

"It's not a problem. Miley deserves her first sleepover even if it's starting with homework." Chuckling together, Finn gives Elena and hug and kiss.

"Be very good for them okay, Elena? No throwing tantrums or misbehaving."

"I promise, daddy." Elena promises.

Walking out together, Dani locks her classroom door before taking Miley's hand and picking up Gale from his classroom.

"Oh my gosh." Gale gasps seeing Finn holding Elena's hand, walking her to Dani's car.

"What is it, Gale?" Dani asks.

"He's my favourite football player ever!" Gale jumps up and down.

"Really? Your favourite football team?"

"YES! Seriously, mom? You didn't know this is Finn Hudson the best quarterback in the world!"

Dani looks at Gale amused.

"Honey, I only know him as Elena's father." Gale rolls his eyes.

"May my brother have your autograph, Mr. Hudson?" Miley asks innocently.

"Of course." Finn smiles, "Do you have a notebook for me to sign, little guy?" Nodding, Gale pulls out his notebook and a marker. Signing a page, Finn writes a message before passing them back to Gale.

"You are my idol, Mr. Hudson. I want to be a football player just like you." Gale smiles happily.

"Really?" Gale nods.

"Yes. I'm the quarterback on my football team here at school."

"And he's a musician. He writes his own music and he and mommy write lyrics together." Miley states proudly.

"Wow, you are seriously talented, Gale." Finn grins proudly, "I would love to see you play football and perform. I was in Glee Club at my high school."

"And you are the Glee Club teacher there too." Gale agrees.

"Yes." Finn nods, "And my wife is the teacher as well and on Broadway."

Hearing about this, Dani is shocked. She's poor and barely affords to pay bills and buy food. If it wasn't for Elliott, she and the kids would be on the streets. Keeping quiet as Gale and Finn talk, Miley and Elena whisper back and forth about music.

As the conversations come to an end, the five of them head out to the cars. Climbing in the car after saying goodbye to Finn, Dani buckles up and makes sure the kids are as well. Checking both ways before turning on the street, Dani begins the way home.

"It's my favourite singer!" Miley squeals excitedly before singing along to the song. Elena smiles and sings along as well not saying a word about what is on her mind. In the front, Gale hums along and mouths the words. The artist you might ask? Dani has no idea.

Arriving home, Elena sticks close to Dani scared. Gently taking the little girl's hand, they climb the stairs. Unlocking the door, Dani opens it as Miley gently takes Elena's hand leading her in. Following behind them, Gale hurries to the kitchen to do homework. Locking the door, Dani kicks off her shoes where Miley's, Gale's and Elena's shoes are already.

Hanging up her coat, then the kids', Dani starts to mark the assignments that are completed, sitting down with Gale giving Elena and Miley time to bond before the girls begin their homework.

Cooking dinner, Dani's cell phone goes off. Picking it up, Dani doesn't look at the caller ID.

"Hello?" Dani speaks softly multitasking.

"Hello, is this Ms. Heart?" The voice asks.

"Speaking."

"I'm Elena's mother." Looking at the clock it's seven exactly.

"Oh, hi. How are you?"

"Exhausted. I just got home from work. Thank you for giving Finn a break tonight."

"It's not a problem, but that's not the reason why I did it. My daughter and Elena are getting along so it's just a plus on top of their homework assignment."

"That is true. So thank you."

"Has Mr. Hudson asked you about tomorrow night?"

"About meeting you?"

"Yes. For Elena. She really wants you there."

"I know. I took everything I have tomorrow night moved around so I can make it."

"You are a great mother."

"I wish I could do more."