In This Song

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or the songs mentioned/sung.
A/N: All mistakes are mine.


It's Britney, Bitch

Out of sheer guiltiness to their insulting comment Kurt and Mercedes ask Rachel if she wants to be part of their Britney video. "You'll be great for the part as the lead," Mercedes tells her. "And we can rope some Cheerios into dancing back-up!" she ads the last part proudly to Kurt as if putting an end to a supposed everlasting clause in their plan.

"Sounds brilliant!" Kurt gushes. "And Rachel must obviously have the required clothes from her hideous wardrobe!"

"Right down to the knee-socks!"

"Excuse me," Rachel cuts in irritated. "Once you're done insulting my choice in clothes, can we discuss this music video?"

"Re-make of music video," Kurt corrects.

"Yes, that," Rachel snaps. "What song is it?"

"The only song that needs to dress like you used to: …Baby One More Time."

"Really?" Rachel's eyes widen with surprise and then joy. "This will be excellent! The video can take place at McKinley in the hallways! We'll need a vast amount of cameras, not forgetting people to operate the cameras so-"

"We'll plan it all, sweetie," Kurt tells Rachel before she can ramble on any longer. "All you have to do is show up and sing while us directors do all the real work."

"Quinn knows," Finn rushes to Rachel in the hallway. "About the kiss," he adds, whispering urgently.

It's a tad too late to tell me now.

"I'm sure there's nothing to worry about, Quinn knows you love her and that I no longer have feelings for you. I must be going, bye," she adds curtly. She hastily disappears into the Girls' Bathroom and sighs in relief. She half expects Quinn to suddenly walk out of one of the stalls and surprise-attack her. That is why she quickly left Finn standing bewildered in the hallway.

If Quinn had seen us then who knew what she would have done?

Quinn didn't see.

"Fabray? What do you want?" tracksuit-clad Sue barks as Quinn marches into her office. Quinn wavers a little because it's been a while since she's been in contact with the cold steely eyes.

She's able to muster back up the confidence she had had when she confronted the Coach last year and demanded some of the Cheerios' pages for the yearbook. "I want back on the Squad," she fiercely stipulates.

Sylvester furrows her skinny blond brows in confusion. "You're joshing me, right? You marched out of my office last year after you said you prefer Glee and now you're marching back in saying you want to be a Cheerio again?"

"It's different now," Quinn persists. "I'm not pregnant anymore! And you know I can do the routines."

"But how do I know you can keep your legs closed?" Sylvester counters. "I can't let you be a Cheerio again if I can't trust you to do your job properly without getting knocked up again."

"Yet you trust Rachel Berry enough to offer a spot on the Squad?"

"Ah, so you've heard of that, have you?"

"Yes. Coach Sylvester, that girl is a loser."

"I know. But she's smart, confident and has a lot of ammunition to beat the daylights out of the South Ranges Cheerleaders. She's perfect, you're not."

"So, what? You're choosing her over me?" Quinn forces back the bile of disgust in her mouth.

"I'm not choosing Berry over you. I would never choose you," Sylvester snarls at her. Quinn sighs, frustrated, and she knows there's only one resort left.

We've reached the begging portion of the day…

"Please, Coach," Quinn pleads. "I really want to be a Cheerio again. I'll do anything to be on the Squad again!"

I may as well be begging on my knees!

"Stop your pathetic act," Sylvester snaps. "Water-girl for two weeks – after that I'll think about."

Quinn stops the pout forming on her lips.

Take it or leave it, I guess.

"You won't regret this, Coach."

Leon Medina doesn't all too much like McKinley High. The school's known for its pathetic test-scores produced by the lazy-ass students who don't care at all about their grades or getting into college or anything at all apart from themselves.

His opinion doesn't matter. His Ma isn't going to suddenly transfer him to another High School again when he's only been at McKinley for a little over a week. He just has to endure it. At least Rachel also attends McKinley otherwise he would be on his knees pleading with his Ma because he hates the school that much.

How the hell did Rach last two years here?

It's mostly the Slushie facials he hates. He's not gotten any at all – he's one of the bulkiest Seniors so no one will dare – but he's seen many others receive it. It's always the kids on the bottom of the popularity food chain dished out by the kids at the top.

And Rach had to go through all of this alone with no friends to help clean her off…

He knows about the weekly – daily even – slushie facials she received in her first two years in High School. He and Rachel had emailed regularly during their time apart and she had told him all about her torture. It had been worse when they spoke on the phone.

Those bastards made her cry.

He can't do anything to those fucking Jocks who gave her the slushies.

"Violence is not the answer," Rachel reprimanded him as they walked to his car with Maria tagging along with them. "You must not, under any circumstances, lay a hand on those boys."

"Why the hell not?" Leon glowered. "After what they did to you? Still do?" She got the rare slushie in the face every now and then.

"Because the ending result will be you receiving slushie facials as well as I. And Maria," she added glancing at the smaller Medina. He scowled.

"Not to mention," Maria continued for Rachel, "you'll end up hurt. I know you're a Senior but you can't take on so many Football Players by yourself."

"What about that Puck guy?" he asked Rachel. "I didn't tackle him in Glee because Mr Schue was there but that doesn't mean to say I'm not going to give him a piece of my mind."

"Can't give him a piece of something that doesn't exist," Maria teased and Leon rolled his eyes.

"You can not!" Rachel shrieked in horror. "Noah is a changed man. He no longer bullies me," she firmly told him.

What he really hates is just the fact that he's new, meaning he doesn't have many friends.

One day, he makes a new friend.

It's after third period and he's leaving the Chemistry sulking because he has just been given the results of his practice test paper and it's a fucking D-.

Just be glad it's not a fucking F.

"'Sup?" Santana asks as she struts beside him.

"I fucking hate Ms Alan," he cusses. It feels good to let his anger out. Normally if he were with Rachel at this moment he would have to keep all the vicious swears in because she doesn't approve of it.

"That bitch? Everyone hates her," Santana comments, rolling her eyes.

"Easy to believe," he smiles. "So, did you want something or…?" he asks Santana curiously.

"Why was Rachel late to Glee yesterday?" she asks bluntly.

"She told you, Sylvester cornered her," he answers dully.

"Sylvester's always grumpy at the end of the day like the old granny she is and can't wait to go to back to her house at the nut-job shelter. She would've cornered Berry during the break between periods… unless Berry wasn't in school."

"Are we talking about the same Rachel Berry?" Leon scoffs. "Around 5'2? Has brown hair? Kickass voice? Because that Rachel Berry will never skip school no matter what."

"You're talking shit and you know it," Santana snaps. She looks intently into Leon's sea-green eyes for a minute before smirking. "In fact, you know something else – why Berry wasn't in school yesterday. Spill."

"I don't know what you're talking about," he rolls his eyes at her.

"Those years taking acting classes won't work on me," Santana sneers. Leon observes Santana's face, waiting for just the briefest flash of uncertainty.

Crap. There goes my act out of the window.

He sighs, frustrated. "I can't tell you."

"Why? You promised Berry?" she says in a fake-sweet voice with a hint of jealousy.

Leave it to Berry to be able to bag a Senior.

"It's not my secret to tell," he shrugs. "If Rach wanted you to know she would tell you."

"So she wanted you to know?"

"Not really… I asked her, she said nothing, we argued, she let it slip," he explains describing the events of the day before. "She's still mad at me," he unnecessarily adds.

"Aw, trouble in paradise?" Santana sympathetically says. Truthfully she has never been more thrilled. Now she has a bigger chance with Leon.

Leon sighs again, this time exasperated. "Not you too! Does everyone think me and Rach are dating? We're just friends!"

Santana grins widely in happiness. "I knew it! I knew you would never like a loser like her."

"Just because I said we're not dating doesn't give you the right to call her names. Rachel and I are still friends, remember?" he reproaches Santana, glaring.

"Alright, alright," Santana holds her hands up in surrender, "sorry."

He's really protective of Berry, so they must be close. Close enough for her to tell Leon everything I've done to her. Fuck, I hope not.

"Sure you are. I got to go to class."

"Wait," she hastily stops him from leaving by grabbing hold of his arm. "Do you want to catch a movie?" she casually asks but crossed her fingers behind her back with hope.

"I don't know…" he trails on unsure.

"Why not? Do you have to ask Berry's permission?"

He narrows his eyes. "Rachel's not the boss of me but I do have to think about her. She's told me all the bitchy things you've done to her."

"I don't do anything to her anymore. Just tease her now and then but she doesn't care. So, do you want to catch a movie or not?"

"Yeah, sure," he shrugs. "Tonight?"

Santana smiled widely. "Sounds great."

Is it 'March Angrily Into Sue Sylvester's Office' day?

That's what Sue thinks as soon as her nemesis, Will Schuester, barges into her office. "Hello William, what can I do for you today?" she asks him casually.

"You can explain to me why you're prying over an innocent girl like Rachel?" Will huffs, enraged.

"And what do you mean by that?" Sue harmlessly asks. "I was just giving a girl who's been made a laughing stock of this school – because you started that loser of a Glee Club – a chance to boost her popularity by becoming a Cheerio. What's the harm in that?"

"You know exactly what the harm is!" he accusingly shouts. "You're using Rachel to get to me! You want to bring Glee down so bad that you'll use the lead as a pawn in your plan!"

"Get your facts straight before you decide to accuse someone, William, because I'll do no such thing!" Sue seethes.

"Then why? Why did you offer Rachel the chance to be a Cheerleader when you were so reluctant to hold try-outs for the Squad last year?"

"I don't need to have her try-out! She's been dancing since she was a foetus – she can handle the routines!"

"What are you trying to do? Make Rachel work so much on the Cheerleading routines as well as have me have her work hard on her solos and duets that she has to quit one of the teams to take the pressure off? Because she'll quit the Cheerleading Squad-"

"She hasn't even decided whether she's going to join or not!" Sue yells back. "And Berry isn't the one you should be worrying about."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about Quinn Fabray. The girl begged to be part of the Squad again."

His eyes widen with alarm. "Y-you're lying."

"I talk nothing but the truth. Just like it's true when I tell you that your hairstyle seems to have gotten puffier over the summer. Is it just a perm or are you trying to get an afro, Schuester?"

Will ignores the hair jibes and focuses on the information he has been given about Quinn. "What did you say to Quinn? Is she a Cheerio again?"

"That girl? She can't keep her legs closed for that long."

"Sue," he warningly says to her.

"Like I said, I speak nothing but the truth. I told her I couldn't trust her so I gave her the spot as water-girl. I'll decide if I want to make her a Cheerio or not in the end. See, It's just innocent old me trying to give two girls a chance, what's the harm in that?"

"You're up to something, I know it," Will narrows his eyes then hurriedly leaves with the last word.

Sue stares after him for a moment with her nostrils flaring with anger and then she cools down with satisfaction. She pulls her journal out of one of the drawers of her desk and opens it up at the first black page. The first words she writes are big and in capitals.

RACHEL BERRY

Obnoxious. Rude. Courageous. Fierce. A pain in Schuster's ass. She's all the things I love.

She's scary too. I've been observing her over the few years she's been here and she's never shed a tear when faced with the unholy fist of a slushie. If the pathetic Freshmen girls on the Cheerleading Squad were to ever meet the sucker-punch of a slushie they'd be bawling their eyes out. Maybe Berry can help toughen them up.

I would do it myself but I have to work my ass off now trying to make up new challenging and creative Cheerleading routines otherwise the South Ranges Cheerleaders will pummel the Cheerios just like they did a decade ago when their Coach had been Angelina Christensen. Christensen's routine involved singing, dancing, acting – the works! I've never said this before but… she was better than me.

And now she's back coaching the South Ranges after working in some Godforsaken place in the Philippines' coaching those girls for their Asian Cheerleading Nationals. And damnit, if she wins Nationals again I'll… I'll start coaching in the Philippines'!

That's why I need Berry. She's the best singer in this school and I need her vocals for the Squad. The fact that she can do cartwheels and has been taking ballet is icing on the cake.

If she doesn't decide to be a Cheerio I'll hassle her until she begs for a second chance to be one.

Santana is feeling over the moon, is jumping for joy, is chirping with cheerfulness and all that shit. It is because Leon Medina, one of the hottest – if not the hottest – guys in school just accepted to go one a date with her.

He had been a tough case. Santana had flirted with him since day one when he started at McKinley. She had pouted her lips, twirled her hair, licked her lips, swished her hips, and shortened her skirt - the works. And he had said not two words to her or asked her out on a date. If it had been any other guy they would be begging to go on a date with her. Leon is different. And Santana loves it.

All she had had to do was ask him out on a date because it seemed he would never ask her. And he accepted.

Imagine how pissed Santana is at lunch break when Sylvester tells her there's an extra practice after school. The day of her date with Leon and there's Cheerio practice.

Yes, very pissed. However, she's able to call Leon and asks if they can push their date to 6PM instead of 5PM and he replied with the casual, "Alright."

Do fucking all boys always sound so careless?

After alerting the other Cheerios of this news via text she finds Brittany (the blonde's standing next to the water fountain trying to figure out how to operate it) and asks her if she knows why Coach has ordered the extra practice.

Brittany is a little… unintelligent. Actually, a lot. That is why everyone, apart from Santana, finds it acceptable to talk at her. They let their emotions and secret thoughts out and Brittany willingly listens. These people aren't worried because Brittany is very forgetful and by the next hours doesn't remember the things the students and sometimes even teacher have told her. Unfortunately for them Santana knows how to make Brittany remember. It takes a lot of tries and guesses but in the end Santana has some gossip to spread.

Unluckily Brittany isn't sure. "Maybe she just wants to get Coach Tanaka mad," she suggests.

They find out during practice when they see Quinn sitting at the edge of the bleachers next to a water cooler, several cups, and some water bottles. "Looks like we have a new water-girl," Santana nudges Brittany and smirks.

Leave it to Sylvester to humiliate Quinn time and time again.

As the Cheerios all make their way to the Girls' Locker Room to shower and change, Santana notices Quinn being lectured by Sylvester. Their Coach's words are yelled so loudly they may as well be shouted throw her bullhorn. "I TOLD YOU! It's supposed to be MINERAL WATER from EVIA! Not this crap!"

"She looked like such a loser!" Santana laughs as she brushes her slightly wet hair back into a ponytail. Some Cheerios are still in the shower but they giggle at Santana's comment as do the others who are getting ready to leave.

"Is Quinn made out of water?" Brittany dimly asks Santana.

"No, Britt."

"Then why do we call her the 'water-girl' now?"

"Because she's in charge of water."

"Oh…" she nods, understanding now. She adds a little lip gloss to her lips and then turns to face her best friend, smiling. "Okay, I'm ready to go to the Mall."

"The Mall?" Santana enquires, confused. She thinks for a second and then her mouth opens into an 'O'. "Shit, did we make plans to go to the Mall?"

"Yeah," Brittany pouts, "aren't we going?"

"I'm so sorry, Britt," Santana apologetically says. "I have a date. With Leon," she joyfully adds, smiling again. "Turns out I just had to ask him. And he said yes! Anyway, we can always go to the Mall some other time, right Britt?"

"Yeah," she answers, although unsure to where the conversation is leading to.

"I knew you'd understand," Santana grins and glances at the time on her phone. "Shit, I got to go home and get ready. Bye Britt," she hastily adds, pecking her friend on the cheek and then rushes off out of the Locker Room. Brittany is left staring after Santana until she realizes something.

Isn't Santana going to give me a ride home?

Brittany hurriedly grabs her purse full with the money she was supposed to spend during her shopping trip and pursues in the direction her friend went but she is nowhere in sight. Heartbroken, she tries to walk back to the Locker Room to ask the other Cheerios if they're willing to drive her home.

Luck doesn't seem to be on Brittany's side that day because she is unable to find the Girls' Locker Room. Instead, she stumbles into the large Auditorium. At the side of the stage a stereo is visible alongside a number of CDs. She vaguely remembers Mr Schuester telling Glee that he will be leaving some Britney Spears CDs in the Auditorium in case any of them decide to rehearse there.

It won't hurt to sing a little. Unless I get that Larry thing like Rachel had. But Rachel sings a lot and that's why she got it. Can I get Larry-in-jitus if I sing a solo? But… Mercedes and Kurt and Finn never got Larry-in-jitus so I don't think so... Screw it, I'm singing. I love Britney songs.

She's been in love with Britney Spears ever since she saw her on TV. She would always dance along to the music videos and sometimes even sing along too. She even began to spell her name B-R-I-T-N-E-Y until her Mom scolded her.

Brittany makes her way to the stage and fiddles around with the buttons on the stereo until she finds the one that opens the thing-a-majig where you put the CD in and pops a CD in. She fiddles around with the buttons once more until she finds the play button and begins to sing.

I know I may be young, but I've got feelings too.
And I need to do what I feel like doing.
So let me go and just listen.

All you people look at me like I'm a little girl.
Well did you ever think it be okay for me to step into this world.

Always saying little girl don't step into the club.
Well I'm just tryin' to find out why cause dancing's what I love.

Get it get it, get it get it
Get it get it, get it get it
Get it get it, get it get it

I know I may come off quiet, I may come off shy.
But I feel like talking, feel like dancing when I see this guy.

What's practical is logical. What the hell, who cares?
All I know is I'm so happy when you're dancing there.

I'm a slave for you. I cannot hold it; I cannot control it.
I'm a slave for you. I won't deny it; I'm not trying to hide it.

Baby, don't you wanna, dance upon me,
To another time and place.
Baby, don't you wanna, dance upon me,
Leaving behind my name, my age.

Get it get it, get it get it
Get it get it, get it get it
Get it get it, get it get it

I'm a slave for you. (Here we go now)
I cannot hold it; I cannot control it.
I'm a slave for you. (Here we go) I won't deny it,
I'm not trying to-

Suddenly she stops when she notices a tall lanky boy standing in the doorway of the Auditorium, watching her. As she rushes over to turn the stereo off the boy walks up to the stage.

"That was really good, Brittany," Finn compliments her.

"No it wasn't," she replied flatly and then she pulls he plug out of the socket to stop the stereo.

"Well, it wasn't really good," he meekly says, running a hand through his short hair. "But it was good. You just need to work on it a little."

"How?" she asks, confused.

"Uh... like, the high notes and stuff," he shyly answers. Awkwardly he looks around the nearly empty room. "Are you alone? Where's Santana - I thought you two were always together?"

"Not always. We don't go to the toilet together," she tells him in a 'duh' tone. "She had to go home to get ready for a date."

"Aren't you two dating?"

"Sex isn't dating."

"Oh... wait, doesn't Santana drive you to school and back home?" She pouts and sadly nods. "I can give you a ride if you want. I was waiting for Quinn - you know she's the Cheerios' water-girl now? - but Coach Sylvester has her running around doing tasks and junk so she told me to go home and she's going to call her Mom to pick her up."

"Poor Q," she comments. "Do you know where I live? Because I forgot."

"Uh, yeah, I do."

"And Finn?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks." Brittany smiles appreciably at him and he grins back.

To be a Cheerio or to not be a Cheerio, that is the question.

Rachel sighs, frustrated. It was Day Three and she was no closer to deciding if she wants to be a part of the Cheerleading Squad. She made a pro/con list on Monday night but although there were more pros, some cons were most important. Then she gave an amount of points to each pro and con from 1-10, 10 being the pro/con was very important. She began adding up the points but it had been so late that she fell asleep. She wasn't bothered to continue now.

Is it a matter of becoming a Cheerio or becoming popular?

She was still a loser at McKinley but now she didn't have to fear that there were Jocks behind her, plotting the best time to slushie her. From time to time they taunt her but that was that. She gets over it. She's still getting over the Slushie Attack from Quinn and the young Cheerios. If she joins the Cheerleading Squad she can punish the Cheerios who slushies her...

Being a Cheerio will mean wearing the uniform every Monday to school. The skirt she isn't worried about because she always wear skirts - she's wearing one at the moment. It was the top. All the Cheerios (apart from Becky and Mercedes) are slim and slender. Rachel, on the other hand, is slender too but her curves are much more obvious. Won't she look ridiculous?

Not forgetting she will have to have her hair tied up in a high ponytail. She has always been a little self-conscious of her forehead. She takes a scrunchie out of her locker and pulls her dark brown hair into a ponytail and examines it in the mirror hung up inside her locker.

I look… nice.

She begins to smile until someone yanks the scrunchie out of her hair. "Hey!" she yells, irritated, and whips around. "What are you doing, Noah?" He smirks and opens his mouth to speak but Rachel suddenly stops him by saying, "And don't even think about saying whatever dirty comment you had in mind."

"Chillax, babe," he tells her, handing the scrunchie back to her. "I just want to enjoy the view while it lasts."

"What are you insinuating? That soon I will no longer look adequate?" she glares at him.

"No, I mean you'll be dressing in those Cheerios uniforms," he explains, "and you'll have your hair up all the time. Let me enjoy the view of you like this while I can."

"I haven't decided if I am joining or not," she reminds him, closing her locker. "And also, I had forgotten to mention this earlier but Ms Sylvester promised that if I join the Cheerio will only be needed to wear their uniform during practice, at Football games, and on Mondays. Other than that they can wear whatever they wish to wear."

Noah's eyes widen with surprise. "Are you serious?" Rachel nods. "You know what this means?"

"You will be unable to enjoy watching Cheerios walk past?" she says flatly, ignoring the piercing in her heart as she says this.

"No. Well, yes... Whatever. What it means is that Sylvester really wants you to be a Cheerio."

Quinn watches the encounter from the other side of the hallway. She rolls her eyes when Rachel begins to go on and on about something. Although she can't hear what they're saying, she knows Rachel is explaining something - probably some Broadway play - in vivid detail. Oddly, Puck is nodding along totally interest. Then he says something and runs his fingers through her brown bangs which makes Rachel go pink and playfully swat his hand away. Quinn clenches her fists.

Must Rachel Berry get everything I lost? My ex, my cheerleading spot, my ex, soon my popularity and then my whole life.

Two can play at that game. I can take something of Rachel's. And what does she love most? Solos…

Rachel walks up to Kurt and Mercedes who are both sitting in the Choir Room. "I realize you two have not contacted me yet with the days of practice. Has there been a problem with the cameras or something?" she enquires using only one breath.

Mercedes shoots a glare at Kurt. "You said you were going to tell her."

"I never said such a thing!" Kurt counters. "I said I should tell her with you."

"I never said I was gonna tell her!"

"Tell me what?" Rachel bursts out, aggravated.

Kurt rolls his eyes at Mercedes. "I'll tell her now."

"How do I know that you'll just say later that I was supposed to tell her now?"

"That honestly does not make sense at all."

"Tell me WHAT?" Rachel shouts over the two's bickering.

"We have decided to go a different way with the video," Kurt calmly answers.

Rachel looks at them questionably. "By which you mean…?" the decibels are lower because Quinn, Santana and Brittany are filing into the Choir Room, surprisingly early for Glee.

"Quinn's staring in the video instead."

"WHAT?" Decibels are now much higher. She doesn't need to turn her head to know that Quinn is smirking. "Why?"

"She's blond," Kurt flatly answers, shrugging. "Not to mention the dance moves are little advanced for you." Rachel clenches her jaw.

This is all her idea! She's still in the mood for revenge! Wasn't the slushie attack enough for her? She convinced Kurt and Mercedes to let her be in the video instead of me!

"If that was the case then why isn't Brittany staring in your video instead? She's blond and a much better dancer than Quinn."

Brittany brightens at her words. "Thanks, Rach," she smiles at Rachel who smiles back.

"Britt can't handle singing '…Baby One More Time' as a solo," Mercedes tells her as though Brittany wasn't even in the room.

Rachel glances at Santana, awaiting her to blow up in front of Mercedes's face and reproach her for thinking Brittany can't handle a solo in defence of her best friend. However, it never comes.

Santana is not defending Brittany? I feel like I'm in another galaxy. Santana has always defended Brittany – the two are inseparable! Unless this means Santana believes that Brittany can't handle a solo? No, that's absurd…

Brittany glances at Santana too, then back at Mercedes and mopes. Santana is oblivious to both of their glimpses at her because she is all to focusing on Leon who has entered the Choir room, followed by Artie, Tina and Maria.

I've never heard Brittany sing alone before, or in a duet. However, she is able to keep up with the group songs, which means she is not tone-deaf. She may not be able to sing show-tunes or any Broadway song for a solo but a pop song seems more adequate for her. A Britney song for Brittany.

"Alright guys, who's ready to perform?" Mr Schuester asks them all. Rachel hurriedly sits down as the reaming members of the Club enter and take their seats. Maria sits on Rachel's left and Noah is the one to sit a few seats away on her right. He flashes a small smile and Rachel smiles back, blushing a little because she keeps reminiscing of the scene in the hallway. Her smile fades when she sees Leon sitting on one side of Santana's and they were whispering to each other with grins on their faces.

"They went on a date Tuesday night," Maria whispers to her when she catches Rachel frowning at Leon. "I think his reputation is going to be the same as it was in California." Rachel rolls her eyes. Leon is and always will be a player.

"I'm ready to perform," Santana says, causing Noah to shoot a worried look at Rachel who shrugs back, confused.

"It's a Britney Spears song, right?" Mr Schuester asks to make sure Santana was sticking to the number he had given.

"Yeah."

"Of course," Noah comments, "because Satan's only good at singing Britney Spears."

Santana rolls her eyes at Puck's comment. "Don't worry, Puckerman. This song isn't about you." She smirks a little before she begins to sing.

Baby, can't you see?
I'm calling a guy like you
Should wear a warning
It's dangerous, I'm fallin'

Santana looks from boy to boy but avoids meeting her eyes with Puck's.

There's no escape
I can't wait, I need a hit
Baby, give me it
You're dangerous, I'm lovin' it

Her eyes lock with Leon who grins, amused, back.

Too high, can't come down
Losing my head
Spinning 'round and 'round
Do you feel me now?

With a taste of your lips
I'm on a ride
You're toxic, I'm slipping under
With a taste of poison paradise
I'm addicted to you
Don't you know that you're toxic?
And I love what you do
Don't you know that you're toxic?

She is all too busy focusing on Leon to see Brittany's fallen face. However, Rachel does notice.

Too high, can't come down
It's in the air
And it's all around
Can you feel me now?

With a taste of your lips
I'm on a ride
You're toxic, I'm slipping under
With a taste of poison paradise
I'm addicted to you
Don't you know that you're toxic?
And I love what you do
Don't you know that you're toxic?

Don't you know that you're toxic?

With a taste of your lips
I'm on a ride
You're toxic, I'm slipping under
With a taste of poison paradise
I'm addicted to you
Don't you know that you're toxic?

After Glee Leon and Santana are walking hand-in-hand down the hallway with Maria watching disgusted and Brittany watching upset.

"Are you okay, Brittany?" Rachel asks the blond.

She's not the brightest star in the sky but she does possess feelings. And her feelings are written clearly on that angelic yet idiotic face of hers.

"No," she answers simply, still watching Santana and Leon.

Dimness means bluntness?

Brittany wrenches her eyes of the two to look into Rachel's brown ones. "Will you help me with something?"

Rachel steps onto the stage clad in a v-neck white t-shirt, white frilly skirt and matching Chic-Lace up heels. She stands at the centre and looks to the occupied seats where New Directions sit.

"Okay, Rachel, take it away," Mr Schuester tells her.

"Thank you Mr Schuester," Rachel says. "I apologize for the last minute move to the Auditorium but a bigger staging area was needed for the Cheerios to dance in-"

"You were able to convince Cheerios to help?" Kurt incredulously asks.

She truthfully answers, "Yes. They were more than willing." She glares at him for his interruption but then frowns when she glimpses at the students surrounding him. "Where's Quinn?"

A few of them look around. "Forget her, where's Brittany?" Santana asks, outraged. "Shit, did she get lost again?"

"Quinn had to go help Coach Sylvester," Finn sheepishly answers Rachel. Mr Schuester curls his lip in hidden anger.

"And Brittany?" Santana asks Finn who merely shrugs back. She rolls her eyes at him just as the music begins.

All my people in the crowd
Grab a partner take it down!

All eyes dart to the side of the stage and are all shocked when Brittany emerges wearing an exact replica of Britney Spears's outfit in her music video Me Against the Music right down to the blue streaks in her hair. She winks at Santana and then starts to approach Rachel with a leering smile.

It's me against the music
Uh uh

Rachel nods at the advancing Brittany.

It's just me
And me
Yeah
C'mon
Hey Brittany?
Are you ready?
Uh uh, are you?

No one cares
It's whippin' my hair, it's pullin' my waist
To hell with stares
The sweat is drippin' all over my face
No one's there
I'm the only one dancin' up in this place
Tonight I'm here
Feel the beat of the drum, gotta keep it that bass

They're all in awe at Brittany's singing voice which keeps in tune with the music. The Cheerios appear on the stage dressed as dancers and they and Brittany copy the moves from the music video.

I'm up against the speaker, tryin' to take on the music
It's like a competition, me against the beat
I wanna get in the zone, I wanna get in the zone
If you really wanna battle, saddle up and get your rhythm
Tryin' to hit it chic-a-tah
In a minute I'm a take a you on, I'm a take a you on

Hey, hey, hey

All my people on the floor
Let me see you dance
Let me see ya
All my people wantin' more
Let me see you dance
I wanna see ya
All my people round and round
Let me see you dance
Let me see ya
All my people in the crowd
Let me see you dance
I wanna see ya
So how would you like a friendly competition
Let's take on the song
It's you and me baby, we're the music
Time to party all night long

We're almost there
I'm feelin' it bad and I can't explain
My soul is bare
My hips are movin' at a rapid pace
Baby feel it burn
From the tip of my toes, runnin' through my veins
And now it's your turn
Let me see what you got, don't hesitate

I'm up against the speaker, tryin' to take on the music
It's like a competition, me against the beat
I wanna get in the zone, I wanna get in the zone
If you really wanna battle, saddle up and get your rhythm
Tryin' to hit it chic-a-tah
In a minute I'm a take a you on, I'm a take a you on

Hey, hey, hey

All my people on the floor
Let me see you dance
Let me see ya
All my people wantin' more
Let me see you dance
I wanna see ya
All my people round and round
Let me see you dance
Let me see ya
All my people in the crowd
Let me see you dance
I wanna see ya
So how would you like a friendly competition
Let's take on the song
It's you and me baby, we're the music
Time to party all night long

Get on the floor, baby lose control
Just work your body and let it go
If you wanna party, just grab somebody

Hey Brittany
We can dance all night long

Hey Brittany, you say you wanna lose control
Come over here I got somethin' to show ya
Sexy lady, I'd rather see you bare your soul
If you think you're so hot, better show me what you got
All my people in the crowd, let me see you dance
C'mon Brittany lose control, watch you take it down

The Glee Club burst into a round of applause and they all make standing ovations. Brittany, beaming with joy, pulls Rachel into a tight and enthusiastic hug.

"They loved it!" she squeals into her ear.

Rachel corrects her by whispering, "They loved you mostly." Brittany squeezes Rachel then releases her, still grinning.

"Girls," Mr Schuester addresses them with amazement etched all over his face, "t-that was…"

"Awesome," Brittany finishes as the Cheerios quickly scatter out.

"Exactly," he grins full of pride. "I'm very proud of you, Brittany," he adds to the blond as she hops off the stage. Brittany then hugs a surprised Mr Schuester. After that she begins to hug the all members of New Directions and they congratulate her on her performance.

Rachel watches Brittany interact with the others. They are all so proud of Brittany and praising her but none of them – not even Leon or Maria – have said a word of commendation to her. She sighs, frustrated, and follows the crowd of the Club out.

Mr Schuester stops her halfway by gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "You did well, Rachel," he tells her and she flashes a small smile at him and then leaves the Auditorium.

His opinion may matter but his praises don't. None of the Glee Club praised me or complimented me. Albeit the fact that Brittany sung the most, my voice is much more enhanced than hers! I even helped her practice and she never spoke a word of gratitude today!

It goes to show that you should only help yourself sometimes…

The hallway is deserted apart from Brittany who is rifling through her locker and Santana who is leaning against the wall waiting for her. "Hi Rachel!" Brittany brightly says to her. "Thanks for helping me with the Britney song."

A genuine smile forms on Rachel's lips.

Bubbly Brittany. You can't stay angry with her. I should have learnt this fact when she accidently gave Coach Sylvester the Sectionals set-list.

Rachel replies, "You're most welcome, Brittany." Then she says to Santana, "Is Leon not with you?"

"Nah, he had to head home with Maria," Santana shrugs. "You did a good thing today," she praises and Rachel is astounded. "I'm glad you learned how to share the spotlight," she teasingly adds as she doesn't want to sound too nice.

"Found it!" Brittany chirps as she pulls out her Cheerio uniform out of her locker. "I forgot I put it under my packed lunch."

"I thought you don't have packed lunches?" Santana raises a brow at Brittany.

"It's from my first day in Freshman year," Brittany shrugs. Rachel and Santana immediately wrinkle their noses in disgust.

"Freshman year?" Rachel sceptically repeats. "Do you not clean out your locker?" She should have expected Brittany to shake her head.

"Let's go, Britt," Santana says as she stands away from the wall. "So Berry, should Brittany only wear her uniform Monday?"

"Is that your way of asking if I am now a Cheerio?"

"Yep. So?"

"I guess you will have to wait and see on Monday morning," Rachel smirks. Santana huffs, annoyed, and leaves with Brittany who waves goodbye at Rachel.

She's clad in her normal clothes again and ready to leave. Since it's a nice afternoon, she's walking home.

She walks past the Choir Room but abruptly stops when she hears a few notes being played on the piano. Curiously, she peeks into the room.

"I'm not bothered fighting right now, ManHands," Quinn drawls at her from the piano. Rachel notes that her voice is croaky and her eyes are a little puffy – assumingly from crying.

"What are you doing here?" she harshly asks. She knows she's supposed to be more sensitive to a crying girl but after the hell said crying girl has put her through she dismisses the rule.

"Selling cupcakes," Quinn sarcastically says.

Rachel rolls her eyes. "So, what is it that has gotten you so upset?" she probes. She expects Quinn to throw a witty remark at her which she will counter but instead the blond takes a small photo – about the size to fit it into your purse/wallet – and holds it out.

Rachel approaches her and takes the picture and scrutinises it. "Oh," she simply says, now understanding.

"That's the smallest copy. She also sent over a massive one to hang up on a wall – not like I would do that – and a medium one," Quinn says. Rachel nods but truthfully she's zones out because she's staring intently at the picture.

It's of Shelby Corcoran holding a small baby who looks no older than 4 months at most. This isn't the first time Rachel's seen this picture. Once, only a few weeks ago after school started she catches a glimpse of it on her Dad's laptop screen when he had been checking his email. Her Dad had immediately snapped the laptop shut but Rachel had already seen enough. Her mother, Shelby Corcoran, had sent a picture to her Dad of herself and her new daughter, Beth. Now Rachel can look at the picture properly and analyses every aspect of it like the jubilant smile on Shelby's face with the curves of her mouth nearly hitting her full of love deep brown eyes that are staring affectionately at Beth.

"So, ManHands, how does it feel to know you Mom has another daughter?" there's the witty remark.

"I'm guessing the same it feels for you to know that your daughter has another mother," Rachel counters.

"So it sucks," Quinn says flatly.

"Yes it does." She exasperatedly sighs and drops onto the empty space on piano seat. It's followed by an awkward silence until Rachel breaks it by asking the question on her mind, "Has Noah seen this yet?"

"I got it in the mail today along with a letter from Shelby saying how well Beth's doing and it also said that she sent the pictures and a letter to Puck too. I haven't talked to him and he hasn't said anything to me so…" she shrugs. "Maybe he got it and doesn't want to say anything. Or, maybe his Mom found it and threw it in the trash."

"I agree with the second option," Rachel mutters. To avoid another awkward silence she changes the subject. "You should have come to Glee today."

"Why? I missed your solo?" Quinn rolls her eyes.

"Actually, Brittany and I sang Me Against the Music," she corrects.

Quinn's eyes fill with surprise. "Really? Did you sing the Britney Spears part?" Rachel shakes her head. "Wow, so Brittany took the lead… I really wish I did come to Glee!" She groans.

"What's wrong?"

"Santana's going to kill me for missing it!"

Rachel chuckles and Quinn joins in. The instantly stop when they think the same thought.

Aren't we supposed to be fighting?

"Look ManHands- RuPaul- Berry- Rachel," Quinn awards herself for finally getting the name right, "about the slushie -"

"Let's just forget about it," she hastily cuts in.

Quinn slowly nods. "Okay."

"So, what are you playing?" Rachel asks, interested. She looks at the sheets of chords on the piano and then to lyric sheet next to it. "Oh…"

"Rachel Berry, lost for words," Quinn laughs without humour.

"So you play piano?"

"I used to but then I stopped when I started High School because the Cheerios said it was stupid. Now I can't remember how to play."

"May I?" Before Quinn has time to answer Rachel starts complying by the chords sheet. Quinn pursues her lips for a second in uncertainty but then sighs and looks at the lyric sheet then at the photo in her hand.

Tiny hands.
Yes, that's you.
And all you show,
It's simply true.
I smell your breathe,
it makes me cry.

She thinks back to the day back in the hospital after the physical pain of having conceiving a baby and before the emotional pain of having to let the baby go – her baby. Beth had looked so peaceful and content.

I wonder how,
I've lived my life.

Cause without you,
How did I get through,
All of my days,
Without you?
Now living with you,
See everything's true,
My baby, it's you.
My baby.
My baby,
My baby.

With no words at all,
So tiny and small.

That's how Quinn had seen Beth. She had been so small and cute. And now she is growing up.

In love I fall,
So deep.
So deep.

My precious love,
Sent from above.
My baby boo,
God I thank you.
God I thank you.

She knows she shouldn't be thanking God. He had put her through nine months of torture, then the hours of labour, but seeing Beth – someone she had made – for mere seconds evened it all out.

Cause without you,
How did I get through,
All of my days,
Without you?
Now living with you,
See everything's true,
My baby, it's you.
My baby.
My baby,
My baby.

Rachel watches the emotions etched on Quinn's face. The girl obviously loves Beth and is heartbroken that her baby has another mother. Rachel can't help but wonder if her own mother had felt this.

Cause without you,
How did I get through,
All of my days,
Without you?
Now living with you,
See everything's true,
My baby, it's you.
My baby.
My baby,
My baby.

When the song finishes Quinn is on the verge of tears.


A/N2: Songs are "Slave 4 U", "Toxic", "Me Against the Music and "My Baby" all by Britney Spears.

Sorry it's a day late but I had to re-write it.

Twist of events, huh?