Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or Losing My Religion.

Note: I know some of you are upset with Rory in the last chapter, but he has reasons, trust me, and you'll find those out soon enough. Finally, finally. This is it, guys, the big moment. Hope you enjoy!

That was just a dream
That was just a dream

"Okay, Evans. You can do this. Just go up to him and say you're sorry and tell him how you really feel. Just do it. What's the worst that can happen? Okay. Okay." Sam fixed his hair in the bathroom mirror quickly before heading out into the hallway. He knocked twice on Kurt's door. "Hey, Rory? Are you still here?"

A tired-looking Kurt opened the door. "Please, Samuel, you've interrupted my required eight hours of beauty sleep. Mr. Flanagan went back to the residence of Brittany S. Pierce a couple of hours ago. Now, please leave, or risk my wrath."

"Right. Thanks," Sam said lamely, backing up before Kurt threw something at his head. He grabbed his keys and headed for his truck, where he drove directly to Brittany's house. He had heard that Brittany usually spent her weekends at Santana's, and hoped he wasn't waking Mr. and Mrs. Pierce up. He quietly knocked on the front door. He hung back, hoping someone might answer. A minute—a long, long minute—later, Rory himself answered, something Sam had not been prepared for. "Oh. Um. Hey."

"What do you want?" Rory asked crossly.

"Five minutes," Sam said. "Just…five minutes."

Rory looked him up and down, and Sam held his breath. "Fine." He stepped aside and let Sam pass through. He silently went upstairs and to his bedroom, Sam close behind. Once they got to the room, Rory shut the door and sat on the bed. "Five minutes starts now."

"Rory, Artie and I are best friends. We have been ever since I first went to McKinley last year. We just like to watch science-fiction movies together, that's all. He fell asleep, like he always does, and I tried to make him more comfortable. I swear to God, that's exactly what happened. I'm not a player, okay? Look," he sighed. "Quinn cheated on me with Finn. Santana used me for sex to make Brittany jealous. And Mercedes didn't want a long-distance relationship; that breakup was mutual. If any one of the guys in Glee is a player, it's Puck. I think, with the exception of Tina, he's been with every girl in that choir room in one way or another. I like you Rory, not anyone else. I want to kiss you, hug you, hold you. I want to be with you, and only you, no one else. Please, Rory. Just…please forgive me and tell me you wanna be with me, too."

"Of course I want to be with you," Rory said softly. "But I told you, Sam, I cannot. What would happen when the year is over? I do not want to be in Ireland and know that you are here without me. You are a year ahead of me in school, and there would be no way for us to be together. We would have, what, six or seven months together before I would have to go back, possibly for good? No, Sam. That would break my heart more than not being with you would."

Sam crossed the room in two steps, gently grabbed Rory's cheeks, and planted a firm kiss to Rory's lips, lingering there, not wanting to pull away. "There," he whispered, chest heaving. "You can't tell me you didn't feel anything from that."

"I felt everything," Rory murmured. "Everything. I just don't understand…how could this have happened? I…I wasn't supposed to fall for you."

"You can't just plan these things." Sam closed his eyes. "Please, Rory. Please. At least…consider…being with me. As my boyfriend. I don't care about the eventual distance. That's why we have Skype. And Facebook. We can call each other. I…I can study abroad when I'm in college. Please…please…Rory, I…I want you so much…"

"And I want you," Rory breathed. "More than I can possibly say." Sam looked at him hopefully, biting his lower lip as he waited for Rory's answer. "I…I need to think about this tonight. I shall let you know tomorrow if I want to…to take this chance."

Sam's shoulders slumped. "Okay. But Rory," he lowered his voice. "I'd wait for you forever." He kissed Rory on the cheek and left him alone to think. Rory, hands shaking, knew he had two phone calls to make, one of which might devastate him. He picked up his cell phone and began to dial, holding his breath the entire time, cheek burning from where Sam had kissed it.

Sam couldn't sleep that night, either. He wanted to know what Rory was going to say to him the next day at school. He wanted to know if Rory was going to say yes, that he would be his boyfriend, or if he was simply going to break Sam's heart by saying no. He tossed and turned, unable to get comfortable. He was too hot, or too cold. His stomach hurt from the nerves and his heart kept speeding up in random bursts. He wandered around like a zombie the next morning, dark circles under his eyes. "Rory."

"Hullo," Rory murmured. "I have thought it over, what you said. And I shall give you an answer now." Sam sucked in a breath as he waited. "I want to take this risk, Sam. It is a big one, and though my head is telling me I should not, my heart is telling me that I should. Yes, I will be your…boyfriend," he whispered the last word so people passing by in the hallway couldn't hear and immediately start gay-bashing them.

Sam swayed, stumbling over his own feet. Surely, he was still dreaming. "You will?"

"Yes," Rory stepped closer to the blonde. "I will."

Sam let out a whoop of joy, and Rory couldn't help but to laugh. Sam swept Rory into a massive hug, holding him tight to his chest. "I haven't been happier in so long."

"Me, too," Rory admitted. "Me, too." He let Sam lead him into the choir room, where he shot a meaningful glance over at Kurt and Blaine. They got the message and smiled back. Artie also guessed what had happened and flashed Sam a thumbs-up. Rory turned and looked at Sam with those big, blue eyes of his. "Do we tell everyone?"

"Only if you want," Sam assured him. "Whatever you're comfortable with."

"You don't mind?"

"No," Sam said honestly. Rory swallowed hard and nodded. Sam knew what he wanted right away. "Hey," he addressed the group. "Rory and I have something to say."

"Oh?" Mr. Schuester raised his eyebrows. "Okay. Go ahead."

Sam grabbed Rory's hand and felt Rory jump at the sudden gesture. He squeezed it for reassurance. "Um, Rory and I are now, um, dating."

Silence. Dead silence. "Well, I think it's wonderful," Kurt was the first to speak up.

"Yeah," Blaine added. "That's great, guys!"

"You're my best friend, Sam. If you're happy, I'm happy," Artie concluded.

Puck grinned wickedly. No doubt he was thinking of the first time he ever talked to the blonde. "No, Puck," Sam rolled his eyes. "I haven't had any balls in my mouth."

"You will soon," Puck grinned even wider. Rory turned an interesting shade of red.

"Well, this was unexpected," Mr. Schuester looked surprised. "But, uh, you both have all of our support, just like we support Brittany and Santana, and Kurt and Blaine."

"Thanks," Rory muttered. He didn't so much like being in the spotlight. All he wanted was to sit down again and escape their critical eyes. He let go of Sam's hand and picked a seat in the back row, away from everyone else. He sidled close to Kurt, craving his support and approval. Kurt smiled warmly at the younger boy and patted his knee. It relaxed Rory and made him feel a little better, knowing he had two people firmly on his side.

"Hey, you okay?" Sam looked concerned.

Rory swallowed. "Yes. I just…I felt them all judging me…"

"They're not," Sam whispered back. "They're just surprised, that's all."

"I hope you're right…"

Three days later, Rory arrived at school to find balloons taped to his locker. Curiously, he opened only to have a shower of confetti spill out all over him. "What the…" Someone tapped him on the shoulder, and he spun around. "Sammy!"

"Happy birthday," Sam smiled goofily.

"But how did…I never told…"

Sam shrugged. "I have my sources. So how does it feel to be sixteen?"

"Brilliant," Rory gave Sam his brilliant smile. "I didn't think anyone would really remember, or care, but you…you're amazing, Sammy."

Sam blushed. "Well, I try," he shuffled his feet. "You'll get your real present later, when I take you out to dinner.

Rory's face lit up. "You're taking me to dinner?"

"Yep," Sam nodded. "It's your special day, after all."

Rory flung his arms around Sam's neck. "Oh, thank you!"

"You're welcome," Sam wrapped his arms around Rory's back. "Anything for you."

"Happy birthday, Rory," Kurt and Blaine said in unison as they strolled by, hand-in-hand.

Rory grinned. "Thanks!"

"I wrote you a poem, Leprechaun," Santana sauntered up to them. She cleared her throat and pulled out a piece of paper. "Roses are red, violets are blue. Happy freaking birthday, I no longer loathe you."

"Wait," Sam did a double-take. "Did Santana almost say something…nice?"

She rolled her eyes. "I said I no longer loathe you. I didn't say I like you or anything."

"It's the thought that counts," Rory shrugged. "Thank you, Santana."

"Whatever," she walked away.

"Why does she…?"

"Long story," Rory waved Sam's question away. "It's not like she wrote you a nice poem when you came back. As I recall, it was quite catty."

"I didn't doubt that, considering our history," Sam admitted.

Rory didn't want to think about the fact that his boyfriend wasn't a virgin. "So where are you taking me tonight?"

"You'll see," Sam winked. He sweetly kissed Rory's forehead and left the blue-eyed boy standing there, dazed and coated in glitter, wondering how he was so lucky to have someone as incredible as Sam Evans in his life. All day, Sam kept going out of his way to make sure that Rory had the best sweet-sixteen ever. A cupcake at lunch, a folded note with a heart on it passed to him between classes, a flip of his blonde hair and a smile that made Rory weak in the knees…he couldn't have asked for more. Everything was perfect, right down to the flavor of the cupcake—vanilla bean, Rory's favorite.

Sam picked him up right at 5:30 that night for their surprise dinner. "Where are we going?" Rory asked for the hundredth time.

"Shh, somewhere nice. You look…you look…amazing," Sam breathed when he got full sight of Rory. He was wearing the sweater Sam had given him for Christmas with nice black pants. "Your eyes look more beautiful than ever."

"Oh," Rory blushed. "You look very nice, too."

"Kurt helped me," Sam looked a little embarrassed.

"I'll thank him later," Rory giggled, pecking Sam on the lips. Sam turned up the volume on the Michael Bublé CD—Rory's favorite—and Rory smiled. They drove about an hour out of Lima, and by this point, Rory was deliriously curious. Sam pulled up to a small, quaint Italian restaurant that couldn't have had more than twenty or thirty tables. They were shown to a table in the back, and Sam immediately took Rory's hand.

"This is so nice, Sam," Rory looked around in amazement. "Have you been here?"

"Once," Sam said. "The penne alfredo is really, really good."

"I shall take your word for it," Rory nodded. "I believe I will have that."

"The best part, though," Sam grinned as the waiter approached. "Are the warm rolls."

Rory quirked a brow that vaguely reminded Sam of Kurt. "It's a weakness, okay?"

Rory chuckled. "They do look good…" he reached for one, put a little butter in the middle, and bit into it. "Oh my God. This is amazing!" He chewed it happily. He ended up ordering the penne, per Sam's recommendation, and Sam ordered a bowl of spaghetti. They chatted, Sam never letting go of Rory's hand for one moment, until their food arrived and he had to let go. "You were right," Rory said as he dug into his large plate of pasta. "This is incredible!"

"Hey, have you ever seen Lady and the Tramp?" Sam asked suddenly.

"Yes, once or twice," Rory tried to recall it.

"Are you thinking…what I'm thinking?"

Rory's eyes gleamed. "Yes, absolutely." Sam fished out a long noodle and gave one end to Rory, putting the other end in his mouth. Rory, giggling, moved along with Sam until they had both reached the middle of the noodle and were kissing over the middle of the table. He blushed on contact and ducked his head as Sam slurped the noodle up. "Does this make me Lady?" Rory whispered.

"I don't know," Sam shrugged. "But I do know that I have your present, right here." He took out a flat package that Rory knew to be a book and handed it over.

"May I?" Sam nodded. Rory unwrapped it, grinning massively when he saw what it was. "The Fault in Our Stars!" He cried excitedly.

"Check the inside cover," Sam told him. Rory curiously did so.

"Oh my God, it's signed by John Green!"

"Limited edition," Sam said proudly. "I can't wait for you to read it to me."

"We can start tonight," Rory murmured, flipping through the pages. "Oh, Sammy, this is the best birthday ever!"

"It's about to get better," Sam smiled knowingly, looking at something behind Rory. A waiter appeared with a large slice of cake with a lit candle in it. A team of waiters began to sing "Happy Birthday" to Rory, and Sam joined in, singing the loudest of all. Rory turned a fun shade of scarlet. "The best for the best," Sam looked at him lovingly.

"This looks amazing," Rory murmured. "Cheesecake?"

"Of course," Sam said simply. "Classic Italian dessert."

"Here," Rory handed Sam his extra fork. "Share it with me. I will not take 'no' for an answer, darling."

Sam's heart soared; this was the first time Rory had used a pet name for him. It made him feel amazing, warm and fuzzy inside. The night was over much too fast, and he was dropping Rory off at Brittany's house much too soon. "This was the best night I've had in America so far," Rory said, wrapping his arms around Sam's neck.

"I'm glad," Sam stroked Rory's hair. He leaned down and kissed Rory, long and lingering and with just the slightest hint of tongue. Rory moaned a little at the contact, allowing Sam to slip his tongue into his mouth. He didn't want the night, this birthday, this amazing feeling to end. He breathlessly ran into the house, just in time for curfew, and went upstairs to his room, where Brittany knocked on the door not two minutes later.

"How'd it go with Sammy?"

"Amazing," Rory's face was red from the cold, but his eyes were still alight.

"I'm so happy for you, Rory-Leprechaun. I know you were sad 'cause you miss your family, but now you have Sammy, and he'll be the best boyfriend ever."

"I don't doubt it," Rory laughed.

Brittany hugged Rory tightly. "Love you, Rory-Leprechaun."

"Love you, too, Britt." Rory snuggled under the covers and fell asleep with a large smile on his face.

To be continued...