DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GLEE NOR ANYTHING ELSE.

Lexi Vega- Janina Gavankar

You should definitely go to tumblr (twrites1) & check out Sari's outfits for the night. Enjoy. :)

Mercedes ran her hand through her curly hair as she finished up last minute paperwork in her office. Tonight she was having dinner with the dean and other important staff members to talk about upcoming projects that she has come up with for the music department for this semester. She was super pumped about it and couldn't wait to share them with everyone.

"Hey boss lady, I got those papers you needed." A woman said with a smile as she stepped into the large office, making her to Mercedes' desk.

Mercedes turned around and smiled at her, taking the forms out of her hands, "Thank you so much Lexi."

"You're welcome. I also checked on the daycare for Arianna and all they need is your and Sam's signature." She smiled as she sat down in the chair, crossing her legs. Lexi was Mercedes' assistant. She met the woman a few weeks ago on a Skype call with the dean and when the two meet for the first time in person, they instantly connected.

"Dammit, I forgot to tell you not to worry about it but thank you anyways." Mercedes sent her a grateful smile as she she grabbed her purse from the counter and went through it, pulling out her lipstick tube.

Lexi looked at her confusedly, "Then where is Arianna going to go?"

"Our friend is going to watch her for us." She answered as she looked into the mirror, coating her lips with a red matte color. Hearing her phone, she slid the answer button and put it on speaker, "You're on speaker."

Sam rolled his eyes with a slight smirk on his face, putting his things into the truck, "It wasn't like I was going to say anything inappropriate."

Mercedes pursed her lips as she closed her compact mirror, "Sure you wasn't honey."

"Whatever honey." Sam mocked her with a small laugh, hooking up the car seat, "Hey Lexi."

Lexi snickered at the two and their banner, shaking her head, "Hi Sam."

"I was actually calling you and your dirty mind to let you know that me and Ari are about to leave the house."

Mercedes giggled at the name and leaned back into the chair, "Can you send me a picture of what she's wearing?"

Sam pursed his lips, letting out a playful sigh, "You don't trust me at all do you?"

"We had this discussion already." Mercedes laughed as looked at Lexi, who was gesturing that she was going to go ahead and head to the car.

"I might send you a picture later better yet, I taped the show for you to watch later on so you might see us in the crowd." Sam bit down on lip to suppress the laughter, knowing the he was about to get a good cussing out.

"Samuel Evans.." She started but was interrupted by her work phone going off, signaling to let her know it was time to go, "You better be lucky I have to go but please send me a picture. Have a great night, good luck and I love you."

"I love you too sweetheart, always and forever."

"Always and forever. See you later on." She waited for him to say goodbye before hanging up. Standing up from her desk, she grabbed her purse and turned off the lights and headed out. As soon as she got into the hallway, she heard her phone ding. Looking at it, she saw she had a text from Sam, so she opened it up and a small squeal escape her lips when she the picture, "Oh my god.."

"You ready cookie?" Sam looked at his daughter as he unbuckled his seatbelt, smiling when she smiled at him, he opened the door and got out.

The little girl smiled at him as she sat up in her car seat. Ari watched as her daddy got out the car and came to her side. Bouncing in her seat excitedly as he opened the door and started unbuckling her, she lifted up her arms for him to get her out.

Sam chuckled as he picked her up, kissing her cheek sweetly before he stepped back. He had caved in and sent Mercedes a picture of Ari and he was pretty proud of what he had done. He had dressed her in a red dress, that had pockets and white pattern on the chest area paired with a white cardigan with gold polka dots and buttons. She had on a pair of white flower sandals and a pair of small gold heart earrings. Her curly hair was pulled up and placed into a small bun. Sam also decided to do the whole matching thing so he had on a short sleeved red twill shirt paired with his blue jeans and white converses, "You look so beautiful baby girl."

Josh got out the passenger side and grabbed Ari's bag. Sam had asked him to tag along for the night since he didn't have any plans for the night.

"Sam Evans, wow I'm a huge fan. Are you doing the carpet?" One of the coordinators asked as she came up to the car, smiling at him flirtatiously as she placed her hand on his shoulder.

Arianna turned to the woman when she heard her talk, frowning deeply at her when she starting smiling at her daddy and touching his shoulder.

Josh raised a brow at the woman and snorted when he saw Ari's facial expression. This sweet girl was a exact replica of her mama and he couldn't believe that it was starting so early.

Sam kept a strain smile on his face as shook his shoulder a bit to get her hand off, "Yes we are. Now if you will excuse us."

"Us?" The coordinator finally took her eyes off of him and looked at the little girl in his arms, Ari's displeased face was oblivious to her, "Well aren't you a cutie." She moved pinched her chubby cheeks only to move her hand back quickly, "Ouch."

Ari pinched the woman's hand with all of the strength she had before she could even get close to her, letting out a huff, her adorable features turning into a glare.

Sam looked at his daughter in amusement, trying to hold in his laughter. He turned to the woman and began walking backwards, sending her a fake smile, "Sorry about that miss, she just woke up from a nap and she's a little cranky." He lied as he turned around and headed to the carpet, looking down at his daughter who was staring at him, he laughed, "Your mama is going to have a field day with this."

Arianna looked at him with a big smile and turned her attention back to the front. Hearing her daddy say smile, she did so for the cameras. Before they arrived, Sam had made sure that if they were going to take pictures, it was only going to be with two photographers. He didn't want the light to hurt his little girls' eyes nor overwhelm her. And with the respect from the event planners and photographers, they made sure to respect his request. After a few photos, he thanked them and made their way inside.

"Sam.." A voice called out from behind them when they got into the building.

Sam turned around and smiled when he saw who it was. It was his old teammate from Tampa, Steven.

Steven came up to him with a big smile, "What's up man?" He gave him a side hug, smiling at the little girl, "Hi Arianna, remember me?"

Arianna looked at the man with a small grin before laying her head down on her daddy's shoulder.

Sam laughed softy at her shyness as he kissed her forehead, looking back at him, "It's good to see you."

"You too. We miss you down in Tampa. It's not the same without you bro." Steven sighed as he placed his hands into his pockets, "I completely understand why you left. Jake and I was on the verge of doing so but then we got a new coach."

"I heard about that. I'm glad that you guys got rid of the toxin." He said honestly as he shifted Ari in his arms, "I had to get out there not only for me but for my family and to be real with you, it was the best decision I have ever made. I'm always going to support you guys, you know that."

"We know and the decision you made, it was the right thing for you to do." Steven said with a smile as he patted his shoulder, "Wish you nothing but the best. Keep in touch."

"I most definitely will." Sam said with a nod of his head, biding his old teammate and friend a goodbye. He turn around and headed to look for their seats, finding that they were in the front. He made his way down the aisle way, speaking to some of the people. He sat down and placed Ari in his lap, pulling his phone out of his pocket to text Mercedes back.

Josh opened up the small bag and handed her animal cracker. Seeing her eyes light up, he chuckled and watch her small hand grab the cracker and place it in her mouth. He handed her juice-filled sippy just as the host came through on the mic.

After about hour of laughing at the speeches, getting up and speaking to people during the commercial breaks, it was time for the best male athlete award. To be quite honest, Sam didn't care if he won or lost. He was just so honored that he was nominated. He kissed the side of his daughter's head, who was leaning back against him, watching the people curiously.

"Here are the nominees for the Best Male Athlete." The man said into the mic, looking behind him to the screen, each male that was nominated appearing on it. He turned back around and opened the envelope, "And the winner of this award goes to...none other than my man, Sam Evans."

The crowd clapped loudly for him. Sam was in shock that he actually won. He took a calming breath and sat Ari on the floor so he can stand up, picking her back up as he headed to the stage with her in his arms.

The presenter shook his hand, smiling at the duo before he moved to the back. Seeing that Sam had his hands full, he decided to hold the surf board until they got backstage.

Sam went up to the mic, trying to get his thoughts together. The crowd was still clapping and that made him a little emotional.

Arianna looked around at everyone and saw that they were clapping. She looked up at her daddy and smiled, beginning to take her small hands to do it as well, causing everyone to 'aww'.

Sam smiled at her, placing a light kiss on her nose, he cleared it throat just as the noise starting to fade down, "I really wasn't expected to be nominated let alone win this award so I didn't prepare a speech but I will speak from my heart. It was some great athletes that was up for this award but It's really an honor that I was chosen. I want to thank God first and foremost. I want to thank my supporters, without y'all this wouldn't be possible. You guys stuck with me through thick and thin and I love each and every one of you. Next, my haters, thank you for the bad stories and things you had to say, it really made me more determined, so thank you." He smiled when everyone cheered at that, softening up his tone, "I want to thank my loving wife, Mercedes, who couldn't be here tonight. Thank you for loving me and being there for me through whatever. I love you so much baby. And last but not least.." He paused and looked at his daughter, the cameras zooming in on the duo, "I want to thank my baby girl Arianna. She is my inspiration and she makes me the man that I am today. I'm so grateful that she set aside her nap time to be my date for this evening." The crowd erupted into laughter, causing Ari to do the same, "I love you Cookie Monster." He watched as she leaned up and hugged him around his neck, causing the crowd once again to aww and stand on their feet to clap them on, "Thank you guys again for making my NFL playing career one to remember." And with that, he gave them a wave before turning around and heading to the back. That chapter of his life was officially close and in the best way possible.

A/N. Short but sweet! What do you think of Lexi? Definitely not the last time you'll see her. How about Arianna pinching the woman lol? Sari's date night & Sam's speech? This is going to get continued into the next chapter & I will be doing a small time jump. Have a safe & fun Labor Day weekend. :)