Rules for Engagement

The reality of their situation finally hit home for the Spotlight partners on the first weekend in February. It was the first time that all the partners had actually been assembled physically in one place since the decision had been made to buy. Puck had a 48 hour leave that he had been due to take before Christmas; this had been cancelled at the last minute, and so he was given permission to take it now, along with the 72 hour leave he had booked for the following weekend. He therefore was sitting alongside Quinn that Sunday morning, the pair of them dressed smartly - they had tickets to a show that afternoon, the theatres being far too busy the following weekend. Artie sat with Kitty on his lap, to free up a chair, or so they claimed. Beats and Flint had arrived early, and had come to sit in the diner long before the others arrived. When Santana had arrived, she was informed by one of the staff that they had both had sparkly faces when they arrived - she had to stifle the urge to laugh, and was just glad that they had realised and washed the last of the glitter off in the restroom. The waitress in question had kept asking questions in the vein of Twilight; Santana knew the film in question was actually more Magic Mike. She was still silent about her knowledge of Flint's new job - he would admit it when he was ready.

The meeting had begun early that Sunday because both Rachel and Cooper were on stage later that day. Everyone arrived on time, although some of them looked as if they were barely awake; to everyone's surprise, it was the usually fastidiously punctual Trent and Rory that sprinted through the door with seconds to spare - their train had been delayed by a signalling fault at Secaucus Junction. Once they had ordered coffee, the meeting began; all the partners and most crucially Michelle present and correct.

"Ok," Santana began. "We officially take over at noon on Saturday. The lawyers did say that everything would be ready to go on Friday…"

"But you didn't want to risk tridecaphobia," interrupted Artie with a smile. "Fear of the number thirteen and Friday the 13th in particular," he then said to enlighten those of his friends that looked confused.

"It doesn't actually bother me," said Santana, "but Gunther's wife felt that it was a bad omen, and so he asked if we would be willing to defer, and I didn't see an issue. Anyway, it will be a big day; admittedly not as big a day as it would be if we were an Italian restaurant like Breadstix…"

"Or the Olive Garden," said Tina.

"I'm just glad that we are far superior to Breadstix," said Sebastian with a smirk. "I mean, I know it was the restaurant of choice in Lima, but it was hardly haute cuisine."

"Neither is the Spotlight," said Sam with a grin, "but we are by far the best at what we do."

"Exactly." Santana sighed, worried about how off track they were getting. "We give people what they really want - good wholesome food at a reasonable price, with a healthy side order of music. To get back to the point, this year we need to do something different to mark the changeover though. So, the suggestion is that we have a couple of really good specials on the menu, an expanded range of desserts, and quite possibly a theme…"

"Please, please, tell me it's NOT going to be hearts and flowers," interjected Sebastian, "because that is what every place from here to Seattle will be doing. I personally vote that we go to the other extreme and do an anti-Valentine's theme. If people are together, then that's fine, but if they are single then we need to give them the experience that I know that I used to want before I was a happily engaged man." He stopped, and took Dave's hand, smiling.

At this point, Michelle spoke. "Actually, that isn't such a bad idea. I used to notice that on the 14th, we always used to have so many couples, but the other tables were empty as the single folk stayed away. We could set up the bigger tables as places were singletons could come and eat, and escape from all the…"

"Pink slushiness?" stated Kitty. "I mean, don't get me wrong, if people forget about me on Valentine's, then I will kill them…"

"Wouldn't dare," said Artie quietly.

"…but all those icky hearts all over the place, and the roses, and the soft toys - yuck!"

"So what you are suggesting is that we ignore the significance of the date altogether?" responded Santana. "I don't think that is a good idea…"

"No, that isn't what I am suggesting at all," replied Michelle. "What we do is take all the 'pink slushiness' to those that want it. Carry the candles and the flowers to their table. But for all the rest, we just do the usual stuff. Good old fashioned food with just a hint of silly love songs in the background…"

There was a general agreement on that notion. Most, if not all of them, had been in the position of being single on Valentine's, and they could all relate to the idea that some people hated the notion of 'love' being in the air everywhere. Santana wasn't 100% behind the idea, but even Brittany did not seem to support the idea of a full on romance fest. From a purely business point of view, she certainly could see the merits of Michelle's scheme. Her heart was not behind it though, not that she always went with that in life. So she raised her hand in assent when it was proposed that they follow her plan - after all, they all wanted their first night in charge to be a roaring success.

The meeting moved on - the notion of a special midweek morning deal on coffee and cake was given a thumbs up, and after samples were brought out from the kitchen, it was agreed by them all that churros with chocolate sauce would be the first new dish that they would place on the menu. Then, with everyone committing to a time to meet up on the big day, the meeting broke up. Santana returned to her tasks in the office; Brittany and Jeff returned to work. Some of the others lingered for a spot of lunch before they left for home - others like Nick and Sebastian left for their own places of work, both of them hurrying for the subway, time being short. Michelle for her part left to meet Isabelle, to pick up keys and see the apartment properly for the first time. She had agreed to take it, and would be moving in midweek. She did promise to pop back as soon as she could to discuss menu options with Santana.

The latter was by now shut away in the office, the door closed and locked behind her. She had opened the safe, and taken out the little box that she had hidden away in the back the previous week. She was so engrossed in staring at its contents, that she didn't feel the draught from the two sets of wings as they arrived. As a result, when Finn said "Hey Santana!" she nearly jumped out of her skin. She spun round to snap at him, but saw that he had Wes standing at his side, with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"So, dearest Satan, you are finally going to do it! I must admit that I am shocked that you of all people would chose the most clichéd date on the calendar to do it on…" he said.

Finn looked slightly puzzled, but Santana just laughed. "What can I say? She is a hopeless romantic. She will feel that it is the best day of her life ever, even topping bringing the guys back to everyone's sight as angels. Plus, there is also the small fact that everyone that really matters will be here. Burt and Carole are coming to support us; so are the Schuesters. I have even invited her parents to join us. I wanted it to be special; problem is, the others did not want the…"

"Pink slushiness?" interrupted Wes.

"You really do listen to everything! Well, you do, but Finn…"

"I'm not that clueless. I can guess that you are going to ask Brittany to marry you on the 14th, and as a result, you wanted lots of hearts and flowers," Finn responded. "But now, you aren't going to get that, and you couldn't say why you wanted them, because she was there in the room…"

"Exactly…"

Finn smiled at her, and then in a low voice said, "You do realise that just the fact that you are asking her will be more than enough for her? I've known her for nearly as long as you, Santana, and all she wants is to be with you. She has been thinking about proposing to you for a long time, but she is afraid to in case you say no. She actually has a ring bought too - she keeps it inside Lord Tubbington's bed…"

"And you accused Finn of being clueless Santana - it turns out that he is aware of more than you!" said Wes, with a smile.

"We talked a lot when she was the only one that could see me, before Kurt and Blaine came to join me…" said Finn, with a hint of sadness. "I caught her with the ring, and she told me then that she was about to ask you any day - but I guess that with all the death and despair that came around shortly after that, she felt that she should put it off…"

Santana looked at Finn with a new found respect. She had no idea that he and Brittany had become so close. Now however, she could use this to her advantage… "I need you to do something for me Finn. I need you to convince her to ask me on Saturday. Tell her to ask me after nine; then I can get in first, but she will still have her ring with her. It will be just like it was with Trent and Rory."

Wes nodded in agreement to her plan, a broad smile on his face. "If that doesn't outdo all the teddy bears, roses and heart shapes in the world, nothing will. For it be mutual is absolutely perfect."

Finn knew that often in life, there is no time like the present, and so he made his excuses, with a promise to return soon, and headed off to seek out Brittany. He found her cleaning up tables, a post-brunch lull having come to the Spotlight. It was Jeff though that spotted him first as he walked over to help her out.

"Hey Finn! Long time, no see! Then again, I guess that all of this cold weather keeps you pretty busy…"

"You'd be correct about that, Jeff. It is one of the most hectic times of the year for those of us in the collections department. Years ago it used to be mainly the older people that died, but now, with all of the traffic, and people just not paying any attention to the world around them… The job doesn't get any easier either; you just get more numb to it. Anyway, how is married life? You two still insanely happy?"

Jeff laughed and smiled. "Getting more happy each and every day. I'm just glad that we live with Mike now, not Sebastian. We are spared the retching noises when we do something really lovely for each other. Then again recently - well, it seems like Mike might have something big on his mind…if I was still drawing Nick as much as I was during the summer, he probably wouldn't even notice, to be honest…"

"That bad? Maybe I need to pop down and have a chat with him sometime, see if I can help him out. Or send one of the others to do it… Not today, though. It's actually Brittany that I am here to see today." With that, he turned his attention to the young lady in question.

As usual, she was overjoyed to see him, leaving the table she was working on half cleared to run over, and after quickly checking that nobody was watching, she wrapped her arms around him. "You've come to see me? I thought that now everyone could see you we didn't need to have our little chats quite as much." Finn smiled at her, thinking again of just how many times in those months between his death and Kurt's he had paid a visit to the girl in front of him. The fact that any of the people that he had known and loved could see him was unexpected, but a valuable bonus. He had often called on her in her tiny room at M.I.T.; he had listened to her, and she had listened as he poured out his own heart. It had been so good to be able to vocalise all that he had felt to someone that had really known him. Elizabeth Hummel was great, but she had never known the mortal Finn. So there had been good times and bad; days when he had cried so hard that she had burst into tears too; days when the sound of their combined laughter had filled the air. Of course, he had let Brittany talk too, about how much she hated life at M.I.T. and the fact that she had missed so much, above all Blaine's proposal to Kurt.

Of course, that had brought them on to weddings; to her then broken relationship with Santana, and how she was so hopeful that one day she could win her back. Convinced of that fact, she had gone out and bought a ring; he had caught her with the tiny box, and when she showed him its contents, he had gasped in delight. He had of course feared the worst - sometimes Brittany's taste could actually leave a lot to be desired - but in this case she had bought a ring so simple and beautiful in design that he knew that Santana would love it. The problem at that point had been the distance between them and, of course, Dani. it did not seem then that all her dreams would come true easily. Then the New Directions had been disbanded on Sue's orders, and in the course of two days in Lima, it was all back on again.

Finn suddenly realised that his mind had seriously wandered, and that both Brittany and Jeff were staring at him in expectation. "Sorry guys, I got distracted there… So, I wanted to give you a little piece of advice Brittany. We have been talking about you and Santana in heaven, and we are all convinced that this Saturday is the day; the day that you should ask Santana to marry you. She has been waiting for a big Valentine's Day gesture like this all her life. You will all be here celebrating buying the diner, so this one is the perfect one. I also know that she will definitely say yes…"

Finn watched with satisfaction as Brittany's face lit up - and mild amusement as he also saw Jeff's face light up in excitement. "Do you really think that she will say yes? I know that she is so busy with the diner and NYADA; but, yes, she was so keen to have everything hearts and flowers on Saturday. She always did like making a fuss of me on the 14th…and it would be perfect because all of our friends will be here. I will ask her, Finn. I don't know how, but I will surprise her somehow."

"If you want any help with the planning," said Jeff quietly, "then I would be only too happy to volunteer. I would of course have to tell Nick too, because he is my husband and we promised 'no secrets', but he can be trusted."

"I guess that I could sing her a song first then propose up on the stage, a bit like Nick did for you," said Brittany with a smile.

Finn stood back and watched the two of them begin to plot and discuss songs; to talk about that day, not so very long ago, when Kurt and Blaine had made Nick propose; he hadn't planned on doing it anymore, not wanting to steal the limelight on the day of the unexpected Klaine wedding. He smiled, and then recalled what Santana had said about timing. "So, you are going to do it?" Brittany nodded, with a small squeal of joy. "Ok, well I would like to be there, and I am on duty until 9pm, so could you make it after that? I really don't want to miss it…"

Brittany responded at once. "It will be after nine then. I couldn't have you miss it, not after you suggested that I do it."

"Right, we will start planning properly after we finish our shift," said Jeff, as he noticed that the number of customers had begun to grow again. "Just now, we need to get back to work again. Santana would still fire us if we don't serve people." Brittany nodded, and with hardly a goodbye to Finn, the two of them went back to work.

Finn for his part returned to the office, to find Wes and Santana still sitting together, talking about Michelle, and how happy Wes was that she was going to be working there, and, as he himself put it, "escaping my idiot family in Boston."

"Mission accomplished," said Finn, giving Santana a salute, which made her laugh. "She is planning as we speak, with help from Jeff, who overheard everything. You may wish to stay here for an hour or so after they finish up so that the two of them can have an in depth strategy meeting."

"I take it that the other Mr Sterling-Duval will be roped in to help too?" said Wes.

"Affirmative," said Finn. "No secrets ever in their marriage apparently. Makes me wonder how they manage to buy each other gifts though…"

As Wes and Santana smiled at each other over the fact that Finn was taking the whole no secrets thing a bit too far, they failed to notice that the door to the office was being opened…