It started when Finn dumped her, again, for Quinn. You truly never forget your first love apparently. Rachel decided then and there she was sick of being dragged on by a boy who couldn't decide between his manipulative, shallow first girlfriend and Rachel. To Sam, this was the best news he could have gotten in a text from Kurt. You see, Kurt and Mercedes had become Rachel's best friends. Everyone in glee called them the diva squad, even Kurt's Boyfriend Blaine, who switched schools for his senior year, and Mercedes' boyfriend Matt, who recently moved back to town. Apparently Kurt had noticed Sam staring at Rachel "longingly" while she sang to Finn. Kurt promised to keep his secret as long as Sam went after Rachel once Kurt's "bumbling blathering fool of a step-brother broke up with her yet again." How Kurt knew it would happen, Sam didn't ask.

It was about 2 weeks before sectionals and Mr. Schuester was in a pickle. As he ate lunch with the newly divorced Miss. Pillsbury he got the idea. All of glee groaned when he marched in and said "it's that time again, DUETS! And this time the winning partnership gets the leads for sectionals!" cheers and gasps "AND this time I have assigned the duet partners according to vocal chemistry!", confused whispers, the list went as follows.

Finn and Quinn

Tina and Mike (this where they got confused)

Santana and Brittney

Artie and Sunshine(this is where they got suspicious)

Mercedes and Matt

Kurt and Blaine (this is when they accepted it as truth)

Puck and Jen (a new junior Puck started dating after Lauren dumped him)

…And Sam and Rachel (the only single people in glee.)

The glee kids quickly realized they were all with their significant other and were overjoyed. Rachel was just glad that she didn't end up with Finn. Sam and Kurt exchanged knowing glances. Kurt had helped Mr. Schue form the idea of letting couples sing together which of course left Sam and Rachel. Rachel then turned to Sam and asked "Do you want to come over to my house after glee so we can go ahead and get started?" Sam smiled "Sounds totally awesome. Do you need a ride?" She pursed her lips "Well, Noah did drive me to school today and I don't think he'll partially mind if I ride with you so, sure I'd love a ride."

Rachel sat in comfortable silence in the passenger seat of Sam's ancient truck. She and Sam had become close over the summer because she had started giving his little sister voice and dance lessons. In return, Sam taught her how to play the guitar. She remembered one time after a big fight with Finn, for some reason she called him.

*flashback*

"Rachel, what's wrong?" he asked desperately. The blubbering girl replied "he told me I was crazy and- and -and he told me I was- was- was not thinking of him." Sam cried back "Wait, FINN said this? Why!" she gasped "he thought that I would change my mind about leaving him for New York at the end of senior year!" "Rach, where are you? Please tell me you're not driving!" "No, no, I'm at the park. He left me here." Sam had growled into the phone "stay there I'm coming to get you ok?" she nodded before remembering he couldn't see her and saying "Ok. Thanks Sam." He arrived at the park and held her and made her happy again by singing a little bit of Billionaire. That was when he realized he lov- no, LIKED her.

* End of flashback*

Rachel sighs and remembers how Finn apologized and she so easily forgave felt so stupid. Sam smiled and asked "so, what song do you think we should do? May I please say no Broadway? I mean, I love it but it's not my vocal style." Rachel hummed "no, I think your right. Our voices will sound lovely together on a slower sweet song I believe. But, I can't think of anything right now." Sam reached out and tapped on the radio. Seconds later, we were grinning like maniacs at each other.

It's Friday and all of the other groups have performed. The most antagonizing was Finn and Quinn's We Belong together. Rachel's self-esteem could have done without that. So far everyone had brought their a-game. Mr. Schue finally called on Sam and Rachel. He grabbed his guitar and they gently took each other's hand. The suspense in the room seemed to hang as they had let no hints of their performance slip. Then the music started.

(A/n Rachel, Sam, both. dance moves)

Lyin' here with you so close to me she walks away letting their hands fall.
It's hard to fight these feelings when it feels so hard to breathe
Caught up in this moment she steps forward
Caught up in your smile then turns her back

I've never opened up to anyone he steps closer and pulls her close to him
So hard to hold back when I'm holding you in my arms
We don't need to rush this they hold each other for a moment
Let's just take it slow and each step back a little

Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight they hold only onto a hand
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright he lets his hand slip down to her waist
No I don't want to mess this thing up she pushes up on her toes a little before
I don't want to push too far she backs up a little
Just a shot in the dark that you just might he smiles and holds out his hand again
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life she hesitantly takes it
So baby I'm alright, with just a kiss goodnight he swings her into his arms and they almost kiss.

I know that if we give this a little time she backs up and turns away
It'll only bring us closer to the love we wanna find he gently turns her around again
It's never felt so real, no it's never felt so right his wraps his hands around her from behind she breaks away

Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight same as before
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
And I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby I'm alright, with just a kiss goodnight

No I don't want to say goodnight she runs to the opposite side of the piano
I know it's time to leave, but you'll be in my dreams he slowly reaches across to her
Tonight he pleads with his eyes
Tonight she places both her hands in his
Tonight she walks back around

Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight he holds her to his chest
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright she runs her hand between their chests and pushes away
No I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far she steps closer and wraps her arm around his waist again
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life he strokes her cheek
So baby I'm alright, oh, let's do this right, with just a kiss goodnight they rock back and forth
With a kiss goodnight
Kiss goodnight they stop with her head in the crook of his neck.

For a second it's quiet and then everyone except Finn and Quinn is cheering wildly. Mr. Schue smiles and claps as they sit down. "Ok! Well done everyone! It's time to vote. And remember no voting for yourselves!" Rachel smiles at Sam and Kurt nudges her with a raised eyebrow. She lets her hair fall in front of her face to hide her blush. Puck elbows Sam and whispers "Don't let her go man. She deserves a good guy like you." Then they all vote. The room is then filled with silent anticipation. Rachel feels her heart race. Sam's stomach churns. Mr. Schue stands grinning. "The winners, with 12 votes, are… SAM and RACHEL!" the room cheers and Rachel screams "OHMYGOD! About a hundred times until Sam grabs her in a tight hug and spins her around.

The next morning when Sam finally rolls out of bed at the crack of noon, it's with a smile. He and Rachel are the new leads of New Directions. A bright idea hits his head and within 20 minutes he's out of the house and on his way to Rach's. She answers the door with a plain grey tank top and a pair of jean shorts. Her hair is pulled into a sloppy bun and her makeup is nonexistent. Rachel can't believe she decided to be frumpy today. Since Kurt's midsummer makeover, she's actually been up to date on fashion trends, and today of all days she's frumpy. Sam thinks she's never been more beautiful. "Sam, what's up?" He shrugs, a goofy grin on his face "Are you doing anything today?" She shakes her head. "My dads are out of town until next Thursday, so I was just gonna clean up around the house. Why?" Sam leans on the wall "I was wondering if you wanted to hang out today? We could go to the park or something." He hastily adds "to celebrate our win" She grins "I'd love that. Let me go get dressed. Come on in." Rachel ran up stairs and texted Kurt that she had to cancel plans to get their nails done. Then in record speed she changed and put on a little makeup. She smiled as Kurt's picture came up on the caller I.D. "You better tell me why you would cancel our regular nail appointment right now, Miss Berry." Rachel walked down the stairs. "Sam came over and wanted to celebrate our win. So we-"Kurt cut in "oh my gaga, you have a date with Sam Evens?" Rachel heard Sam just around the corner and hissed "Its NOT a date Kurt. I'll call you later" and hung up on Kurt's protests. She smiled at Sam. "Ready to go" She hoped he hadn't heard any of that. Sam smiled and held out a hand. He smiled knowing she had cancelled plans with her best friend to hang with him.

They ended up at Sam's family's new apartment watching Avatar. When Sam found out Rachel had never seen it, he wouldn't stop talking in Na'vi until she agreed to watch it. They sat on Sam's couch Rachel curled up like a little cat. At the end o the movie, Rachel smiles at Sam and says "that was…" he waits expectantly "HORRIBLE" he stares at her dumbfounded until she starts to giggle. He laughs and reaches out and starts to tickle her. She squirms beneath him laughing furiously. He jokingly orders her "take it back." She gasps "I take it back I take it back." He stops tickling her but remains hovering over her. Sam thoroughly considers kissing her. Rachel considers it to. Then they remind themselves they're just friends. Sam's front door springs open and Stevie runs in screaming about his sister stealing his toy. Rachel sighs "maybe I should be getting home." Sam regretfully agrees.

The next Monday Rachel walked in to see Sam waiting at her locker. "Hey." She kisses him on the cheek. "Hey." He grins semi-deviously. "So, a certain petite brunette left a rhinestone studded phone in my truck and this girls best friend wouldn't stop texting her." He pulls the phone out and holds sit just above her grasp. "Does she deserve it back?" Rachel gasped and started jumping for it. "Samuel David Evens give me my phone back!" he just laughs "I don't think so. Not until you ask nicely." Puck walks up behind Sam and smacks his head and hands Rachel her phone. "Thank you Noah." Sam sends him a dirty look. The warning bell rings and Rachel gasps, "Oh no! I have to get to class. See you in English Sam. Noah, please try and show up to Pre-Cal today. I get lonely." The two boys laugh and go to their first class. Sam glances back over his shoulder at the girl who had just tightened her grip on his heart a little bit more.

At football practice later that day, the inevitable comes. Finn confronts Sam as they enter the locker room, "dude, what's going on between you and Rach?" Sam snaps back "Dude, I think you lost the privilege to ask that when you broke up with her. And I'm not your 'dude'" Finn automatically and predictably bows up "Hey! Don't talk to me like that. I have every right to be concerned about her. I still" "Don't you say you care about her. This needs to stop." Finn gets in Sam's face "you don't know what the hell you're talking about Evens. Rachel is and always will be mine." Sam shoves him "Then why are you with Quinn! You CAN'T have both. Now back off My Girl before I convince her to get a restraining order." That's when Finn punches him. By the time Bieste breaks it up Finn is sporting a black eye, a broken nose and a split lip and Sam has bruises all over his cheeks and a black eye of his own." Rachel, who was waiting for Puck to give her a ride home, runs into the room and quickly pulls Sam out, "What in the name of God was that Sam?" He huffs "Hudson had it coming." Rachel sighs "let's get you some ice. Then I want the full story"

And that's how Sam ended up sitting on the Berry's kitchen counter holding a humongous icepack on his face. Rachel stood in front of him, arms crossed, waiting for him to tell her the story. Sam sighs, knowing how stubborn she can be. "He decided that you are his and always will be. So I told him, I told him that he couldn't have you and Quinn both and he needed to, um, I believe the words were back off before you get a restraining order. Or something likes that." Rachel groans and whispers "who threw the first punch" Sam answers to quickly "Finn" she gives him the evil-eye and he sighs "I may or may not have shoved him" Rachel swears lightly "Sam, please, for me, try not to get into any more fights, Especially over me. I'm a big girl I can take care of myself." Sam slides of the counter "I'm sure you can but everyone needs someone to look after them." He gently runs his hand down her cheek "Let me be the one who takes care of you." Rachel stares up at the taller boy. "Sam, are you…" he grins slightly and green eyes hold brown "Rachel, will you go out with me? Please?" Rachel gulps slightly "Promise me that you really mean it. I refuse to have my heart broken again" Sam gently brushes some hair out of her face "I promise" She murmurs "yes." Sam closes what little space there is left between them in a kiss gentle enough not to hurt Sam's already sore face.

In Rachel's first period class the next day Kurt, Mercedes, Tina and Brittney grab the back group of desks and force Rachel, who likes the front of the class, to sit with them. Kurt starts the interrogation "Why did you walk in to school on the arm of one Samuel D. Evens? And then kiss him before walking in here?" She blushes "oh, um well we're kinda dating now." After all of them did the mandatory squeal, Mercedes is next "And your saying, me and Kurt had to find out our fellow diva is dating that fiiiiiine white boy at the same time as the rest of mc-stupid high school." "Well, he didn't leave until late last night. I didn't want to wake you." Kurt gasped "Oh. My. Gaga. You didn't" Rachel blushes furiously "NO. No. nonononono. We just watched a movie. It was all g-rated." They all pout. Mercedes mutters something about "dang white girl getting my hopes up". Brittney pipes up "is a good kisser?" Rachel blushes and answers "Lets just say its more like tasty lips than trouty lips" they all laugh, then Tina gasps "so the fight Mike texted me about, the one in the locker room, was that before or after you got together?" Kurt and Mercedes both start to freak-out again "who fought! When!" I glare at the pretty Asian. "Sam may or may not have fought on not-so-friendly green giant before we got together." And that's what they chatter about the rest of the period. I send on text to Sam help me. It's the Spanish inquisition. He replied want me to rescue you? Lol She giggled and said just wait until they get their claws into you then we'll see who's laughing.

Rachel's heart drops when she can't find Sam before glee practice that afternoon. Then Mr. Schue tells them to get in the auditorium and Kurt and Mercedes Start to whisper about what song Sam's going to sing to Rachel. Sure enough when they walk in Sam is standing on stage and grinning hugely. He Speaks into the mic "this song is for Rachel, My girlfriend." She hears a deep voice gasp behind her. Then Quinn asks" Finn, what's wrong?" and Sam started singing

It's too late baby, there's no turning around

I've got my hands in my pocket and my head in a cloud

This is how I do

When I think about you

I never thought that you could break me apart

I keep a sinister smile and a hold of my heart

You want to get inside

Then you can get in line

But not this time

Cause you caught me off guard

Now I'm running and screaming

I feel like a hero and you are my heroine

I won't try to philosophize

I'll just take a deep breath and I'll look in your eyes

This is how I feel

And it's so surreal

I got a closet filled up to the brim

With the ghosts of my past and the skeletons

And I don't know why

You'd even try

But I won't lie

You caught me off guard

Now I'm running and screaming

I feel like a hero and you are my heroine

Do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?

And I feel a weakness coming on

Never felt so good to be so wrong

Had my heart on lockdown

And then you turned me around

I'm feeling like a new born child

Every time I get a chance to see you smile

It's not complicated

I was so jaded

And you caught me off guard

Now I'm running and screaming

I feel like a hero and you are my heroine

Do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?

(I feel like a hero and you are my heroine)

And I feel a weakness coming on

Never felt so good to be so wrong

Had my heart on lockdown

And then you turned me around

(Do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?)

I'm feeling like a new born child

Every time I get a chance to see you smile

It's not complicated

I was so jaded

(I feel like a hero and you are my heroine)

And I feel a weakness coming on

Never felt so good to be so wrong

Had my heart on lockdown

And then you turned me around

(Do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?)

I'm feeling like a new born child

Every time I get a chance to see you smile

It's not complicated

I was so jaded

Sam started walking down on the 2nd last verse and finally stood in front of her and kissed her at the end of the final chorus.