5Disclaimer: I don't own Glee, although I'd like to thank RIB for letting me borrow their characters through FF.
Follows canon through "A Wedding." After that, I cherry-pick for the story.
Just to be precise – No shenanigans will occur between Santana and Dani. Brittana is a solid unit. No weird pairings like Elliott with Roderick or between the 3 instrumentalists. This story is meant to be fun intermixed with angst.
All wordsmithing errors are mine.
"Band members have a special bond. A great band is more than just some people working together. It's like a highly specialized army unit or a winning sports team. A unique combination of elements that becomes stronger together than apart." - Steven Van Zandt (E Street Band)
Chapter 1 - Old Friends
Kurt watched the diner's clock tick off the final few seconds of his work shift. In the last 5 seconds, he stretched beneath the white countertop, bringing out an envelope with 'Brittana' written on the front. Handing the envelope to Santana, who sat on a barstool across from him counting the tip money, "Blaine and I are having an apartment warming party on Friday. We want you and Brittany to come."
Santana suspicious took the invitation from him to examine it "House warming party implies gifts." He waved her off with his hand, "No, unnecessary. Blaine's parents gave us money as a wedding gift plus what I took from the loft we're good."
A teasing quirk at the corner of Santana's mouth. "Good, I gave you my wedding day as a present."
"For that, we'll be ever grateful to you, Santana. But if you want to bring a bottle of wine and a hot dish, I won't stop you."
"So, who's all invited to this party?"
"The usual, Artie, Rachel, Jesse, Kitty, Roderick, Tina, and Elliott. Blaine and I thought it would be fun to restart the potlucks again."
Her eyes lit up with false indignation. "You're asking me to give up my date night with my wife to spend it with a bunch of theater nerds?"
"Uh, well, it's still can be a date because you'll be going out, not staying in. And you're a theater nerd too." A sly smile across Kurt's face.
"Uh, no. I'm a Voice major."
"Yes, but with a minor in film. Which I recall you saying yourself is writing screenplays. Ergo you're a theater nerd too."
"I hate you." Santana pondered the invite, "OK, fine. I'll ask Britt."
Kurt untied his apron. He looked back up to his friend, "Oh, can we forgo the rice and beans? I know that's a family tradition, but well, it's a bit filling if you know what I mean."
She rose to wait on guests who'd sat at an empty table in her section. With a glance over her shoulder at Kurt. "I'm gonna pretend you didn't say that."
Santana found herself alone for the first time since arriving at the Klaine's studio apartment. Brittany in conversation with Artie on editing software he used at BFA. Memories flooded her mind, recalling her time spent living with Kurt and Rachel in the old studio loft. The snowstorm, The Facts of Life marathons, banishment, the fights with Rachel, Brody. She giggled to herself as she wondered what had happened to the plastic man. Was he suffering from some catastrophic disease he'd picked up while servicing his clientele? Or was he stripping at some non-distinct bar in the Midwest entertaining bored old ladies? It didn't matter. Santana had saved Rachel from her naivete.
Elliott approached his old bandmate. "You look lost in thought,"
Santana glanced up enquiringly at Elliott, who joined her in the kitchen. "Oh, just thinking about the old loft."
He sat his glass down on the countertop, examining the bottles of liquor "Good times, I hope. Uh, have you seen Dani since moving back?" he asked as he poured alcohol into his glass "I hear she has a girlfriend, a chef, I think."
Smoothing down her dress with her hand, "Um, no, I haven't."
"She misses the band. We both do."
Santana tilted her head up to look at Elliott, "You mean the trio?"
Elliott closed one eye as he squished his face up. Debating to broach a subject that had been on his mind for a few weeks. "Managers at the clubs have asked me if we're ever getting back together. Pamela Lansbury was special. The five of us had chemistry. I've joined other bands. It's just not the same."
Her mouth turned into a knowing smile. "You want to get the band back together. Have you talked to Rachel or Kurt? Cos, I don't think Rachel is all that into cover bands right now." She said as she eyed Rachel fawning over Jesse, "More like rebooting her relationship with Jesse."
"No, you're right, Rachel isn't interested. And Kurt is too busy bonding with Blaine."
Santana snorted, "you mean agreeing with everything Blaine says and does."
"Yeah, I thought he was kinda passed that stage already." Elliott grinned. "What about you? Kurt mentioned you'd went on tour with your friend, and you'd signed a recording contract."
"As a backup singer."
"A backup singer on at least one song that made iTunes top eighty downloads. And a duet that made the top 100 iTunes downloads. More than either Dani or I've done."
"So, you're looking for backup singers for Starchild? That sounds a little too Tony Orlando and Dawn to me."
Elliott grinned before taking a sip of his drink, "No, I was thinking we add another male singer, unlike some people," nodding toward Rachel. "I'm not interested in hogging the spotlight."
"She's changed or at least trying too, you know," a tone of sincerity in her voice.
"Yeah," he exhaled, "I haven't seen that yet. So, will you think about it?"
Santana paused. She'd welcome a little extra cash. Brittany had her money from selling Fondue for Two to Univision. Student loans and scholarships covered most of their tuition expenses. They both had jobs, she at the diner, Britt, at a dance studio teaching. Then her Dad filled in any holes at months end. Her independent streak liked to avoid calling Dad. And to be honest with herself, she missed performing. "Cover band or original songs? And will I get a say in who's added to the lineup?"
Elliott took a minute to ponder, more to maintain the suspense, than decide. He knew he wanted Santana back in the band. "Yes, to both."
"Let me talk to Britt. I'll get back to you."
Notes:
Canon doesn't give Brittana a career. I'm going off Santana's comment that she likes to 'sing and dance.'
No clue how well the four voices blend. Kinda thinking in terms of bands that had lead singers, a combination of female & male. Fleetwood Mac, Little Big Town, ABBA, B-52s, The Mamas & the Papas, etc.
I am not renouncing the future canon career success of Mercedes or Rachel or Blaine and Kurt.
Any appearance by Dave Karofsky will be within the show's canon. Honestly, I can't think of a reason to include him at this point.
Song titles are weak—but who would have thought a pop song entitled 'Thriller' would achieve the success it did?