Room for One(shots) Chapter 9: She Said Back, I Said Together (pt 2), a glee fanfic

Have we suffered long enough? I think we have. The first bit's a little slow, but it's relevant information. Enjoy :)

Dani threw herself into her work. She had been sending out demos and auditions to record labels for a while, but after everything that happened with Santana it was the only thing she could focus on. Quitting the diner, she found a temporary job at a coffee shop just around the corner from her apartment. When she wasn't working, she was writing and pursuing every label she could find. Dani left no time for anything else. She couldn't. Everything else hurt too much.

All of her hard work paid off. After three weeks, she received a phone call from a label out in California, asking her to go out to LA for an in-person interview and live performance. For the first time in what felt like forever, she was hopeful. This was her shot, and she was going to give it her all.

She flew out to LA and met with the producer who was interested in her. They hit it off right away, breezing through the interview. He told Dani she didn't even need to perform, he wanted to sign her there and then. They went through all the paperwork; Dani agreed to a one album, one tour contract, and moving out to LA to use the studios there. She started right away.

After everything was all worked out, Dani went back to New York to pack up her life there. Kurt, Elliot, and Rachel helped her pack up all of her stuff, sending her off with promises to stay in touch and quite a few tears. They dropped her off at the airport, saying their goodbyes with hugs and even more tears from everyone. As Dani boarded the plane, there was only one thought in her mind: things would never be the same for her again.

It took her a little while to settle in to her new life out in LA. She was used to the crazy busy feel of New York; California was much more relaxed. Still busy and active, but it was a nice change of pace. She felt like she wanted to do something to acknowledge this new phase in her life, so she dyed her hair a dark brown color. Dani felt like she could finally breathe.

After she moved in to her new apartment and had a week to get used to the feel of LA, the studio let her know it was time to get to work. They decided, with Dani's input, that her first single would be one of the songs she sent in for her demo. The producer working in direct contact with Dani felt like it was a perfect song to get her name out there; it had a great beat and showed off her vocal abilities.

Dani worked with a couple of writers to tweak the song around a little bit, but by the time they were done writing and recording, they were confident they had a hit on their hands. The whole process was new to Dani, but she absolutely loved it. It was fast paced, but it was no trouble for her to keep up because she was living her dream. She picked up on the way things worked very quickly, and by the time her single was released a month later she had already started recorded another song for her album.

Dani and her music were quickly becoming popular, so the producer working with her recommended that she get a manager. She looked into it and found one she liked; a young, people savvy man named Oliver. He had absolutely no trouble getting her TV and radio interviews. The two worked well together, and became fast friends.

After five months, Dani had a nine track album completed for release. The day her album dropped was one of the best days of her life. The label threw her a party, her friends from New York called to tell her how proud they were, her new friends celebrated with her, and Oliver was fairly certain the producers were already considering extending her contract. Dani didn't think things could get any better than that.

But they did. Her album shot straight to number one, Oliver booked her nationwide TV interviews, and she started prepping for her first tour. She worked tirelessly to make everything perfect, and was supported one hundred percent by everyone on her team.

"Earth to Dani? Are you even listening to me?"

"Yes Oliver," Dani rolled her eyes. "I'm listening to your irritating voice speak words at me."

"Okay then sassypants, what did I just say?" Oliver crossed his arms in front of him and raised his eyebrows.

"You, uh..." Dani ran a hand through her hair. "Okay so maybe I wasn't entirely listening..." she chuckled sheepishly.

"Of course not. When do you ever listen to me?" the blue eyed man grinned. "I was saying that you still need to find an opening act for your tour, and the label thinks it would be a good idea to find that act in New York." Dani furrowed her eyebrows.

"Why?"

"Because that's where you're from or something like that. They want you to take a look at a few acts there next week."

"So I don't even get a choice?"

"Afraid not kiddo."

"How many times to I have to tell you to not call me "kiddo"? I'm not that much younger than you, asshole," Dani shoved Oliver playfully.

"I know, I just like messing with you," he smiled. Dani reached up to ruffle his short, dirty blond hair.

"You're like the irritating big brother I never had," she smiled.

"Aw, does that mean you love me?" Oliver teased.

"Ugh you're so frustrating," Dani shook her head, "but yeah, I guess you're alright." She looked up at him, a smile spreading across her face.

"You're alright too, D," he replied. "Anyways, back to the topic at hand-"

"Do I really have to go to New York just to look for an opening act?"

"Yes Dani."

"Whoa, full name. Looks like we're getting serious."

"You leave next Tuesday morning, and you'll be there for three days." Dani nodded, thinking about something.

"Will I have any free time, or am I just hopping from one gig to another?"

"You might have a couple hours the night before you come back. Why?"

"Just...wondering if I might be able to see a friend or two," Dani shrugged. Oliver put his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sure there'll be some time. I know you really miss them."

"Yeah I do," Dani sighed. "But for now," she stood up, grabbing her car keys, "I guess I have some packing to do."

"I'll drop your itinerary off on Monday."

"Okay. Bye Ollie, see you then," she said as she walked to the door.

"Dammit Dani, what have I told you about calling me that?" Dani laughed and turned around, walking backwards to the door.

"I already warned you, whenever there's a "kiddo" there will be an "Ollie" to follow." Oliver shook his head and grinned.

"You're so annoying."

"Love you too, jerk."

Tuesday morning, much too early for her liking, Dani flew out to New York. She landed, got to her hotel, and went straight to the first band's gig. The label had given her a huge list to go through, and she needed to start right away. It looked like it was going to be an all business and no pleasure trip, leaving no time for her to visit the friends she missed so much.

By the end of the second day, Dani couldn't take it anymore. Every act she had previewed so far had been mediocre at best. Some of them were just downright terrible. She wanted nothing but the best for her first tour, and none of these acts were anywhere close to what she wanted. The last group was so bad that she left early, ditching her bodyguard and wandering down the street.

She recognized this part of town; she had been here a couple times with Santana. Dani had finally managed to get to the point where she wouldn't tear up at the thought of the Latina that had crashed into her life and left so suddenly. She could remember all the happy memories, smile at them even, still firmly believing that if they were meant to be then something would bring them together eventually.

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Dani picked up her pace and walked to a bar she knew was a couple streets down. She needed to get that horrible screeching from the last band out of her eardrums, and the bar she was heading to usually had pretty good music. Walking inside, she made her way to the darker end of the bar in the back, hoping to not get recognized. The band onstage was in between songs, so she just sat quietly, enjoying the atmosphere of the lively bar.

"Alright now before we play our last song, I need to have a little talk with you guys."

Dani nearly choked on her drink. She spluttered, waving off the bartender who was looking at her, concerned. Getting herself back in control, she looked up to the stage, her eyes widening at the last person she expected to see.

Santana.

The Latina stood center stage behind a mic stand, and three other people Dani didn't recognize made up the rest of her band. Santana looked different. She appeared to hold herself with more confidence, causing a small grin to tug on Dani's lips.

Santana put the mic back in the mic stand, then reached behind her and picked up a blue flannel and put it on. It looked oddly familiar to Dani, but she couldn't place it. She didn't have a lot of time to wonder about it as Santana began to speak again.

"So I do this little spiel every show before we perform this song, but I'm not sorry if you've heard it a hundred times." Santana cleared her throat, looking around the bar as she rolled up the sleeves of the flannel. Dani was glad she was in the back where it was dark; she didn't know if she was ready for Santana to see her just yet.

"This last song is the very first one I wrote all by myself. I wrote it after I made the worst mistake of my life." Santana reached down to fiddle with the ends of the flannel. "Someone very special to me walked out of my life, and I just let her. I didn't make any effort to stop her. She was right to go, but that didn't make it hurt any less. This was about eight months ago." Dani's breath caught in her throat. Was...was this about her?

"She told me before she left that if we were meant to be that we would find our way back to each other. It didn't take me long to realize that I really did want her in my life, but it was long enough for her to leave. She went out to pursue her dream, and I'm so happy that she did, but now I don't know where she is. I wear this," she gestured to the flannel, "in hopes that if someone records this song on video and she somehow sees it, she'll know that I haven't forgotten about her, and this song is just for her."

Of course Dani recognized the flannel earlier; it was hers. She must have left it at Santana's by accident. She couldn't stop the grin from slipping on to her face at the thought that Santana had kept it all this time.

"So this is our last song. Enjoy."

Dani moved forward a little ways into the light, taking a seat at an empty table as the guitarist played the intro. Santana gripped the mic as she began to sing.

Lipstick on my cigarette
How you used to hog the bed
The little shit that I can't forget
I wonder where you are

Dani laughed, remembering how Santana would always complain about her taking up all the space on the bed.

Still got your apartment key
Voicemails that I can't delete
Man I miss how we used to be
I wonder where you are

I reminisce with the stars tonight
And think of how we knew them all by name
But they don't shine half as bright
Ever since you walked away

Santana took the mic out of the stand and poured her heart and soul out. Dani was impressed at the performer Santana had become.

Oh if we get back together
It'll be like when I met ya
Even better than, I bet ya baby
Let's get back together
Girl I swear you are the reason
Love is something worth believing
When we get together
It'll be forever
When we get together
If we get back together
It'll be like when I met ya
Even better than, I bet ya baby

Santana's eyes began to wander around the room. Suddenly she locked eyes with Dani and her mouth fell open, almost missing her cue.

Last call at the Troubadour
Late night meals after four
Stumbling through my front door
It just don't feel the same

Can't go to our lunch spot
Or grab joe from the coffee shop
Looking down at my phone a lot
But I don't see your name

The Latina's eyebrows furrowed and she tilted her head, asking Dani a silent question; Are you really here? Dani gave a small smile and nodded, causing a grin to break out on Santana's face.

I reminisce with the stars tonight
And think of how we knew them all by name
But they don't shine half as bright
Ever since you walked away

Santana hopped off the stage and started slowly walking towards Dani, singing and smiling like an idiot. Dani laughed and watched as Santana made her way over to her.

Santana stopped in front of Dani's table, everyone watching as Santana sang to her.

If we get back together (it'll be better)
If we get back together (better than ever)
If we get back together
If we get back together

Dani grinned as Santana walked around the table and moved behind her, wrapping an arm around the front of her shoulders. Dani reached a hand up and held on to Santana's arm. The Latina put her head down next to Dani's, leaning their temples together as she hugged the brunette and continued to sing.

I reminisce with the stars tonight
And think of how we knew them all by name
But they don't shine half as bright
Ever since you walked away

Santana stood up and Dani squeezed her arm before letting go, watching as Santana walked back to the stage.

Dani grinned as Santana looked at her while she sang the last line.

Let's get back together

"Thanks guys, that's our set. See you next week," Santana spoke over the clapping from the bar. Dani watched her hurriedly walk off the stage, debating whether or not she should try to find her. Just as she made up her mind, she saw Santana walking towards her. Before she could register what was happening, Santana pulled her up and held her in a tight hug.

"I'm so happy to see you, Dani."

"Me too Santana," Dani smiled. She pulled away from the hug, just taking in Santana standing right in front of her for the first time in nearly eight months. "You look amazing."

"So do you." Santana took a deep breath. "Do you want to go get some coffee or something? Catch up a bit? There's a shop right down the street, it's a lot quieter there."

"Sure." Dani allowed Santana to lead her out of the bar. When they got outside, Santana dropped back to walk side by side with the shorter woman. "So...how've you been?"

"I've been pretty good. My band and I play at the bar every week and I got a job as an assistant at a photography place. It keeps me busy but I like it."

"That's really great Santana," Dani grinned. She was honestly happy for the Latina.

"What have you been up to?"

"Oh nothing much. Moved to LA, made an album, prepping for a tour. Basic, boring stuff," Dani shrugged, teasing Santana.

"That sounds like no fun at all. You should fix that," Santana laughed, nudging Dani's shoulder with her own. She paused to open the door of a little coffee shop Dani hadn't even noticed was there, telling her to grab a table while she ordered their drinks.

As Dani took her seat, she thought about their interaction so far. It was comfortable, natural, almost as if nothing had ever changed. She was surprised at how easily they were getting along. Considering how everything turned out between the two of them, she was expecting a lot worse. This was much better than she could've hoped for.

Santana came back with their drinks, taking the seat in front of Dani and sliding her cup towards her. Dani took a sip and grinned.

"You remembered?"

"Of course I did," Santana said matter-of-factly. Dani blushed slightly. Even after eight months, Santana still knew her coffee order.

They sat in comfortable silence for a minute, each stealing glances at the other and grinning when they were caught. Dani realized she never said anything about Santana's performance, so she decided to speak up.

"I only heard the one song, but you and your band are really good," she praised. "I had no idea you could do that. It was amazing."

"Thanks," Santana smiled. "I honestly didn't either. It wasn't until...after..." she trailed off. Dani nodded. "You know, about a month after that day I went back to your apartment to talk to you, but you never answered so I planned on sitting in the hallway until you came back. I was there for a few hours before Rachel got worried. I told her where I was and she told me you had gone to somewhere in LA and you weren't coming back. I may have thrown my phone against the wall and shattered it..." Dani chuckled. What a Santana thing to do. "I was so upset at first, but then I remembered everything you said about us coming together eventually. That was the night I wrote the song."

Dani sat back in her seat. She didn't know that any of that had happened. Nobody ever told her that Santana came after her.

"What were you going to talk to me about that you couldn't call and say over the phone?"

"Um, well..." Santana reached across the table and took Dani's hands in her own. She looked up into Dani's eyes. "I was going to tell you that I love you."

Dani felt her heart stop. Did those words really just come out of Santana's mouth?

"W...what?"

"I went to your apartment that day to tell you that I love you and to beg for you to give me another chance, but you were already gone. I didn't want to tell you over the phone because I wanted to be right in front of you when I said it. I thought about flying out after you, but I didn't know where you had gone. I didn't know where to look. So I wrote that song and I play it with my band every week, wearing your shirt, going on the slim chance that if you ever saw us play or heard the song you would find your way back to me and I could tell you everything. I'd tell you how sorry I am for ruining us, I'd tell you how stupid I was for letting you walk away, I'd tell you how much I love you. Because I do love you Dani. More than you know. And I've never said that out loud to anyone since I figured it out, because you deserved to be the first."

"How...wha...wh-when did you know?" Dani's head was spinning.

"About three weeks after the day you left me. I was looking through my closet trying to find a pair of shoes and I found this shirt bunched up in the corner. I didn't know what to do with it at first, whether I should mail it back or not. Before I knew what I was doing I had put it on, and it felt like coming home. It felt like you, it smelled like you, and that's when I understood. I didn't know how to tell you, or if you'd even want to see me after everything I put you through, but by the time I had the balls to do it I was too late. You were already gone. I never gave up hope though," Santana smiled sadly, looking away.

"Do you really love me?" Dani squeezed Santana's hands tightly.

"I really do, Dan. I really love you."

"Do you have a copy of my cd?" Dani asked, out of the blue.

"I, um, I don't. I heard the single, Heart Attack, and I couldn't bring myself to listen to the rest."

"Is there a place that sells cd's around here still open right now?"

"Yeah there's one a couple blocks down..." Santana furrowed her eyebrows. "Why?" Dani abruptly stood up, grabbed Santana's hand and pulled her out the door.

"Let's go."

She knew Santana was confused, but she couldn't explain anything just yet. Not before she showed her.

Santana quickly led them to the store, showing Dani the cd section. The brunette picked up her own cd and practically ran to the cash register. She paid for it and pulled Santana back outside.

"Why did you just buy your own cd?" Santana asked, crossing her arms. Dani remained silent as she tore off the plastic wrap and opened the case, pulling out the booklet and opening it to the last page.

"Read it," she instructed, handing it to Santana. The Latina raised her eyebrows, but looked down to read it anyways.

"Dani Harper would like to thank...blah, blah, blah, people I don't know..."

"Start at "A note from Dani", skip the rest."

"Okay..." Santana cleared her throat and read fast. "Here. "A note from Dani: Heart Attack was originally written as an attempt to keep my heart safe, but by the time it was released that changed for me as I realized..." Santana slowed down her pace, "it had already been stolen." She looked up Dani who nodded, encouraging her to keep reading. "'At first I thought I was trying to say that I would never fall in love because it doesn't work out and I didn't want to get hurt but I discovered that I wasn't listening to myself. The song, for me at least, isn't about refusing to fall in love. It's about me refusing to admit that I'm already in love. So if you ever pick up this cd and take the time to read all the way through it, and by some crazy miracle you've gotten this far, I just want you to know that I'm ready, and that-" Dani lifted cupped Santana's cheek and lifted her head, locking eyes and finishing the sentence she had written long ago.

"That I love you."

"Really?" Santana asked with a watery eyes.

"Yes really. I really love you, Tana."

"Is-is that why you came back here?"

"Well no, I came here for work. I need to find an opening act for my tour. And I think," Dani grinned at the Latina in front of her, "I found the one I want."

"You want us to open for you? Are you sure?" Santana's smile stretched all the way to her ears.

"I'm positive. Your band is amazing. Plus..." Dani played with her fingers. "I finally found you, and I'm not going to let you go. Not again. I can't."

"We'll do it, but on one condition." Dani quirked an eyebrow. "I want to be able to call you mine." A slow grin made it's way onto Dani's features.

"As if I could be anybody else's."

Santana dropped the booklet to the ground. Grabbing Dani's waist and pulling her close, she connected her lips to Dani's. In that moment, everything fell back into place. They were happy, they were in love, and most importantly they were right where they belonged; back together.

Did you think it could possibly end any other way? :P Nope. Dantana for life, yo!

Please review, let me know what you think

If you guys want to read a specific kind of story next, I have ideas for just about everything so leave me a message or leave it in a review.

Song is Back Together by Jesse McCartney (his new album just came out, it's really great)

Stay golden, lovelies :)