A/N Hey guys! I've seen a few reviews that are questioning my plans with Brittana and are worried that this is turning into a Bram/Quinntana fic. I'd like to take the time now to remind you that, although it's a spoiler, Brittana is most definitely, 100000%, always ENDGAME. Thank you and enjoy!

CHAPTER 4

Santana had been so used to the city life that she had forgotten how finding a spot for a drink in Lima at barely noon was nearly impossible. The only place open is Breadstix and she wouldn't really characterize that as a bar, but there's alcohol and the patio is open so they find a spot outside in the sun and order wine and a bowl of fries.

"Now this is a classy combo." Quinn points out as the waitress comes around with their order and begins pouring wine into her glass.

"Leave the bottle." Santana says once the waitress finishes filling her glass. She remembers she should be polite and looks up apologetically, "Please."

Quinn shakes her head, hiding a laugh, and steals a fry, "I didn't think you were serious about the getting drunk part."

Santana just sips her wine and leans back in her chair, "I didn't think I'd run into my ex-girlfriend and the guy she dumped me for."

"Fair enough." Quinn shrugs and goes to sip her wine too, "I can't believe it's been five years for you two."

Santana nods as she thinks about the so-called progress she thought she made over the years, "It's this town. There's too much history here. I can't wait to get back to New York and feel normal again."

"I didn't know it was that bad."

Santana looks at Quinn over the rim of her glass, brow arched in question.

"You two must've had a brutal break-up because the only time I've seen you guys half as awkward as that was back in like sophomore year?" Quinn explains and Santana instantly knows of the time she's talking about; now that was rough. "You've had arguments and fights before, but it's never lasted this long."

"Yeah," Santana answers and finishes her glass in record time. Quinn's eyes go wide but Santana's already topping up her glass, "Don't really feel like talking about it."

"I can see that." Quinn says and sips at her wine again.

They end up talking about the funeral and how many people they spotted and how different they looked or how unchanged, the topic of Brittany and Sam never making its way into the conversation again because they both know they don't want to open that can of worms.

They talk about staying in contact this time around once they return to their lives because like Santana, Quinn also finds it a little lonely in New Haven. They talk about possibly visiting each other since Quinn's never been to New York and Santana's never been to New Haven and it can't be that long of a trip.

The bottle is nearly empty and the last of the fries are cold when Quinn gets a call. She looks at the number on the screen with furrowed brows before answering. Santana tries not to listen but a series of looks Quinn pulls has her intrigued. There's mention of Santana being with her currently and that she doesn't know where Brittany is then there is a lot of yes, okay, sure.

When the call ends Quinn's brows are still furrowed and she says something Santana hasn't heard in years:

"Principal Figgins wants to see us."

\\

They spend the next hour sobering up since they both drove separately. They wonder what their old principal could possibly want with them, but they don't come up with any reasonable explanations.

Quinn leads the way and as they pull into the WMHS parking lot, Santana spots Brittany just getting out from her car. Quinn parks next to Brittany and Santana pulls in next to her but she kind of wishes she lagged a little behind so she would've had more time to prepare for the second interaction with Brittany of the day. Maybe this time she won't embarrass herself by making a complete fool of herself.

"Figgins called you too?" Brittany asks as the three of them meet in front of their cars.

"Yeah, not sure what this about though." Quinn answers and looks up at the building, "It's so weird being back here."

Santana agrees, but there's a certain look on Quinn's face and Santana can't tell if she's talking about school or Lima in general.

They walk inside and subconsciously fall into their usual order; Quinn in the middle with Santana and Brittany flanking her, their steps in unison as they walk the halls they once ran. Everything looks the same still, a popular trend in Lima, and Santana is instantly taken back to the time she spent there. As they round the corner, Santana spots the lockers she and Brittany used to share and remembers all the times she spent working through her feelings there: the innocent flirting, the pep talks, the confessions, the hurt, the dirt, the kiss. It's all just a distant memory now.

The secretary welcomes the girls and directs them inside where Figgins awaits, a large TV set up behind him.

"Good afternoon, McKinley alumnus! Please have a seat." He greets a little too loudly but the girls say their polite hellos and take their places in the chairs set out before him. "I am delighted you have accepted my invitation but I am sure you are wondering why I have asked you here today as you are no longer my students and do not require my guidance and supervision."

They nod in unison.

"In the passing of our beloved Cheerios Coach, Sue Sylvester, I have been assigned one last task. Please direct your gaze to the television screen behind me." Figgins says robotically and presses a button on the remote sitting on his desk.

The screen flickers on and the image of Coach Sylvester fills the monitor. She sits at her desk, a number of trophies displayed behind her, a look of determination spread across her face.

"Lady Ta-Ta, Q, Tweedle-Dumb." Sue addresses and Santana cringes at the nicknames, "If you're seeing this, it means I am no longer of this Earth and I have sent for you to gather once more. Why have I interrupted your inevitably boring lives you may ask? Well, despite how I may have treated you over the years, whether frowned upon or not, you three have always been the shining stars of my squad and I have yet come across Cheerios that embody an ounce of what you three do."

Quinn looks between Santana and Brittany in amazement, Sue rarely gave a compliment let alone directed at them.

"Sandbags, Other Blonde, you both were my most valuable soldiers however questionable your loyalty was and no matter how exhausting your Sapphic drama was to endure, the two of you were talented and that carried the team and I have not forgotten that. And Q, I've always thought of you as a younger version of myself: ruthless and stoic. But now, in my last hours, I have spent the time reflecting on my glorious life and I am saddened with the thought that my legacy will not be carried on. That is why I have summoned you three here today, my Unholy Trinity, because on this day I request something of you."

Sue pauses and Santana scoots to the edge of her seat, hanging on every word. It's all over the top and the drama is so unnecessary but Santana can't stop watching. She's genuinely intrigued but also afraid of what Sue could possibly want with them. In high school, they were made to do horrible things to their friends, to each other, and Santana couldn't imagine having to do that again.

"In my untimely demise, I leave behind a squad worthy of greatness. A squad in need of mentoring and guidance, and without the tutelage of one Sue Sylvester, I have no other choice but to rely on the next best thing. In fact, due to your greatness that could've only been attained by my doing, you all are kind of in debt to me. Because of this, I have selected the three of you to carry on my legacy. I have no doubt that you will excel and bring in one last National trophy. My proposition is: for one school year, I ask you to coach my Cheerios in exchange for-"

"I'm sorry, did she say coach?" Santana interrupts and jumps to her feet, "Oh hell no. No, no, no. I did not sign up for this. No thank you."

"Santana, hold on." Quinn tries but Santana's already halfway out of the office, the video continuing to play without her.

Quinn and Brittany share a knowing look before directing their attention back on the screen.

A little while later, Quinn finds Santana in the hallway, pacing, and Brittany trails a little behind with a worried look on her face. Santana doesn't notice though, she's too wound up from the video.

"Who the hell does she think she is? Am I supposed to drop everything I'm doing and return to this shithole of a town to do her a favor? It's one thing to come back for a funeral, I'm not that much of a heartless bitch, but I am not putting my life on hold to fucking coach a bunch of entitled, snotty teenagers."

They watch as Santana continues to rant, switching in and out of Spanish, before she tires herself out and slumps against the wall with her arms crossed.

"Are you done now?" Quinn asks, unfazed by the tantrum.

Santana rolls her eyes in defeat, "Maybe."

Brittany covers a smile with her hand and that makes Santana soften a little more.

"I'm just as thrilled as you are with this surprise," Quinn starts and looks to Brittany, "We both are, but if you would've listened to the entire video, you'd hear that Sue would make this job worth our while."

Santana drops her arms and tilts her head to the side, "What do you mean?"

"Apparently Sue is willing to pay us a pretty hefty sum in exchange for this one last favor." Quinn tells her and Santana instantly thinks of her tiny apartment in New York and all the second-hand furniture she's acquired throughout the years and the student loan she's still working to pay off.

"How much are we talking?"

"Enough." Quinn answers, "More than enough, I'm talking more than a coach should realistically be getting paid, and there's a bonus if we place at Nationals."

Santana's eyes widen, that's definitely more than she makes at the diner and she could really use that money to knock out a big chuck of her student loan debt. She hesitates a bit before asking, "Are you going to do it?"

Quinn looks to Brittany and nods, "Brittany and I have agreed to give it a shot."

Santana glances over to Brittany who stands a little off to the side of Quinn. She's been quietly watching the whole time with her hands in her back pockets.

Brittany looks back at her and shrugs, "I think it could be kind of fun. Besides, it's not like I have anything better to do."

Santana frowns; fun isn't the first word that comes to mind but the money is really tempting and it's hard to think straight when Brittany's giving her more reasons to join.

She also wonders why Brittany wouldn't have anything better to do; as if she's not some successful journalist or choreographer or photographer or whatever Brittany loved doing. She realizes she doesn't know anything about Brittany anymore, not even what she's been doing for work over the years.

Quinn looks to Santana expectantly, "It's only for a school year.."

"And that's not even a whole year." Brittany adds and it almost sounds like she's trying to coax Santana into doing it.

Santana looks between Quinn and Brittany and she can't believe she's actually considering the job, but it means being around Brittany more and she doesn't know if she can handle that. There's a lot of history there and not much closure and it's probably for the best that Santana just heads back to New York where she belongs.

Then again, it's just a job offer and she could keep things professional between them. That could work? She could last the year then head home for good?

She thinks about the money again and how much it'll help in hopes of distracting her from the way Brittany is looking at her, a hopeful glint in her eye.

"Do you want to sleep on it?" Quinn asks, "We can't really do it without you though, we're the Unholy Trinity, we need you. But if you need some time to think about it then go ahead."

Santana looks between them again thinking about how she can't remember the last time she felt needed and there is an unmistakable pain that Brittany doesn't need her in the way that she used to need Brittany. It's strictly for the money and although that reality hurts, Santana finds a little comfort in that. There would be no room for confusion or feelings or anything. It's just a job.

So she sighs and pushes away from the wall she had been leaning on, "Okay, fine. I'm in."