Sitting by the pool that July, Dani saw the pilot of the show with Rachel Berry in it. It was amusing, but not something she would like to see. She wanted to see her perform and be the singer she is. Sue watched the show in disgust, but she didn't say anything in case Dani liked it.
Reading a magazine about Rachel's show, Dani is relaxed with Sue next to her.
"May I go in the water now?" Dani asks after reading the article.
"Go ahead." Sue smiles as Dani smiles, removes her sunglasses and dives into the cool refreshing water.
Bumping into someone, Dani turns to apologize.
"It's okay." The girl smiles, "I wasn't looking either."
"I'm sorry." Dani finally speaks up.
"No worries. I'm Kitty Wilde."
"Dani." Dani answers the other blonde.
"Do you have a last name?"
"Sylvester."
"Are you related to Sue Sylvester?" Nodding Dani doesn't answer with words in case the reaction is the same as Puck's. Seeing Dani's worried eyes, Kitty smiles, "Is she here?" Once again, Dani nods, "May we see her?"
"Okay." Dani whispers. Leading the way to the ladder, Dani climbs out with Kitty.
Walking over to Sue, Dani sits down on her towel.
"Sue?" Dani whispers catching Sue's attention.
"Sweetie, I thought you were swimming?" Sue sits up.
"I was. Uhm, this is Kitty." Dani speaks softly. Looking up, Sue spots the former New Direction.
"Hello, Kitty. What may I do for you?" Sue asks.
"I was wondering if I may come back to McKinley." Kitty wonders, "My parents will go to the school board if you decline."
"Go to the school board then." Sue states.
"Okay." Walking away, Kitty hears Dani argue with Sue.
"Kitty." Sue calls out making Kitty turn around, "See you in September." Smiling, Kitty nods. Kitty silently thanks Dani for what she has done.
Leaving the pool for lunch, Dani bumps into Finn who catches her before she falls into the water.
"Are you okay, Dani?" Finn asks pulls Dani upright.
"I have to go." Dani whispers starting to leave but Finn gently takes her hand.
"I wanted to apologize for Puck. I punched him and left him at the school for what he has done to you three weeks ago." Dani nods, she saw the event take place on camera.
"Thank you. You didn't have to."
"No, I did. You didn't deserve that. Do you think, I may get to know you more?"
"I'm fifteen, why would you want to be around me?"
"You seem cool and brave. Besides, you need friends in this town."
"Is this your way on asking me to give you a chance to be my friend?"
"To put it in less confusing words, yeah."
"Sue gave me her old phone, I'm not allowed to give the number out until she changes it for me." Finn nods.
"How about I give you mine and you text or call me when you can?"
"Okay." Dani agrees.
Two days later, Dani sends a text to Finn, praying it's not a joke.
Hey, Dani. It's Finn. How are you? Nice to hear from you. Finn replies, Would you like to go bowling with me today? I can pay so you don't have to.
Agreeing, Dani pockets her phone and asks if Sue could drive her and come in and wait with her.
At the bowling alley, Dani and Sue walks in to find Finn waiting.
"Hey, Sue, Dani." Finn smiles.
"Hi, Finn." Dani smiles shyly. Seeing that Dani is nervous, Finn offers Sue to join them.
"I'll just watch you two." Sue agrees, making Dani relax.
During their game, Finn lets Dani win each game just to see her smile and excitement.
"I know you let me win. So thank you." Dani smiles. Finn shrugs his shoulders.
"Hey, you didn't know how to play. I loved teaching you." Finn states, "May I have a hug?" Nodding, Dani gives him one.
Arriving to McKinley the next week, Dani and Finn are goofing around in the school until they are at the football field. Racing each other on the track, Dani suddenly trips and slides across it, scrapping her face, arms and legs. Starting to cry, Finn turns around and runs back over to her.
"Let's get you to Sue." Finn lifts Dani up and runs to the school carefully. At Sue's office, Finn barges in.
Looking at her foster daughter, Sue immediately gets to work to clean her up. Sitting on Finn's lap as Sue cleans her up, Dani cries harder as the stinging from the medicine increases. Kissing Dani's forehead, Sue strokes her hair.
"You're okay now, honey." Sue whispers gently wiping Dani's tears away, "Would you like to go home?"
Nodding as her chin quivers, Finn starts to play with her hair and braids it. Giggling as Finn starts to tickle her, Sue smiles knowing Finn is Dani's friend.
At home, Dani sits on the couch with Sue. Cuddling into Sue's side, Dani falls asleep.
As August arrives, Finn and Dani have been hanging out every day even at McKinley. At the park, Dani and Finn play at the basketball court, playing twenty-one. Finn is going full out against Dani and she is really good.
"Jeez, Dani, I'm not letting you win and we are always tied." Finn smiles. Before Dani could reply, Puck's voice is heard.
"Losing against a foster kid there, Finn?" Puck laughs.
"Leave her alone, Puck." Finn snaps.
"Friends with her too. Man, you are pathetic."
"PUCK!" Seeing a blonde approach them with a furious look, Finn wraps his arm around Dani's shoulders.
"Yes, babe?" Puck asks sweetly looking at the blonde.
"Leave them alone." Nodding, Puck walks away, "Sorry about that, guys."
"Thanks, Quinn." Finn smiles in thanks, "This is Dani."
"It's nice to meet you, Dani. I'm Quinn." Shaking hands, Dani stays quiet.
"She's shy." Finn explains.
"I can tell. Anyways, Puck and I are getting ice cream. Would you like to join us?"
"He won't like it," Finn starts.
"Who cares? Come on." Leading the way, Finn and Dani joins them.
Arriving to the ice cream parlor, Puck is angry, but stays silent. Meeting up with their other friends, Brittany, Rachel and Blaine, Finn and Rachel kiss as a greeting.
"Everyone, this is my friend, Dani. Dani, these are, Brittany, Blaine and my girlfriend Rachel." Finn introduces pointing to each person, "Brittany goes to MIT, Blaine moved back from New York, and Rachel moved back from L.A."
Biting her lip, Dani gives them a soft smile.
"She's very shy." Finn includes. Sitting down as Finn and Puck go get the ice creams, Dani looks down at the table.
"Why do you have a boy's name?" Brittany asks looking at Dani.
"It's short for Danielle." Dani answers softly.
"How old are you, Dani?" Quinn asks.
"Turning sixteen next week."
"So, you're Sue's foster daughter?" Rachel double checks. Nodding, Brittany immediately glares as Quinn sits there in surprise.
Just then Finn and Puck returns.
"Why are you glaring at, Dani?" Finn asks Brittany.
"She's Sue's foster daughter." Brittany snaps making Dani get close to crying. Getting up, Dani bolts.
"Thanks a lot, Brittany." Finn glares before running after Dani with Rachel right behind him.
"DANI, WATCH OUT!" Rachel hears Finn shout. Running faster, Rachel watches in horror the car brake and stops in time before hitting Dani.
Finn pulls Dani back out of the street and hugs her close. Hearing Dani crying, Rachel walks over and hugs Dani with Finn.
"Do you want to go home?" Rachel asks gently.
"Sue's not home. She went to a funeral. Dani is staying with me." Finn explains.
Walking to Finn's house, Dani sticks close to Finn as Finn and Rachel's hands are laced together.
"NO!" Dani suddenly screams the second they step into the driveway. Seeing a man standing on the deck with his arms crossed, Dani starts to cry.
"Danielle, you have to come back to New York with me." The man snaps. Shaking her head, Dani takes off running to only get grabbed by a woman and forced into the car.
Rushing over to the car, Rachel opens the door and takes Dani into her arms.
"She's not going anywhere with you." Finn argues.
"She has to come back to get interviewed." The woman states.
"I'm coming then." Finn crosses his arms.
"Fine." Climbing into the car together, Dani sobs into her hands. Every time this interview happens, Dani gets taken away from the family.
Arriving to New York, Dani is in the interview room, pacing as tears stream down her face. She has been in there for a couple hours now waiting for her turn. Hearing the door open, Dani sighs in relief seeing Sue. Diving into her arms, Dani cries.
"It's okay, honey. You'll be coming home soon." Sue whispers hugging Dani to her.
"Don't leave me." Dani whimpers.
"I'm not going anywhere." Sue promises.
"Take a seat." Dani hears a familiar voice. Looking at her regular interviewer, Dani sniffles.
"Please don't take me away from Sue." Dani begs.
"Danielle, you know the drill." The lady reminds her. Nodding Dani leads Sue over to the chairs and sits down clenching Sue's hand tightly. Getting asked the typical questions, Sue lets Dani answer knowing it's her turn, not Sue's, "Danielle, do you have any secrets Ms. Sylvester needs to know about you?" Dani shakes her head.
"Not that I know of." Dani answers honestly, "Well, there is one."
"Which is what?"
"She doesn't know I'm a lesbian yet."
"Does that information effect the decision of being her foster mother, Ms. Sylvester?"
"No." Sue answers honestly.
"All her other families, it effected the long term."
"They aren't the brightest people then for letting such a special girl go." Earning her a nervous smile from Dani, the young girl moves the chair over and cuddles into Sue's side. Seeing a smile from the interviewer, the adult stands up and leaves the room.
"Do you mean what you said?" Dani asks shyly.
"Every word." Sue smiles kissing Dani's forehead.
Around ten minutes later, the woman comes back in with paperwork. Getting Sue to sign them and explains it, Dani has never seen the paperwork before.
"May I ask a question?" Sue asks after signing everything.
"Of course." The woman agrees.
"Why did you take her away without contacting me?"
"It wasn't their intention in a way. It always happens to Danielle. I'm against their tactics. When we called and told you, some families Danielle had didn't care, it showed us that they were only in it for the money."
"They never cared for her." Sue concludes.
"Exactly. Anyways, you may leave when you are ready." Watching the woman stand and takes the paperwork with her, Dani looks to Sue worried.
"Let's go home." Sue stands and takes Dani's hand.
Back in Lima, after dropping Finn and Rachel off, Dani is bouncing in her seat as they pull up to the house at midnight.
"Dear house, I missed you." Dani teases making Sue laugh.
"You're tired." Sue states making Dani nod as she yawns. Heading into the house, Dani immediately brushes her teeth and gets changed. The second her head hits the pillow, she's out like a light.